When I was in 8th grade, I developed a stomach ulcer. I’m not sure exactly when I started feeling the need to prove myself, but that kind of level of performance stress became my norm. I heaped mountains of pressure on myself. I was always striving, always trying to prove my worth through external validation. And yet no amount of achievement would snuff out that nagging feeling that I needed to do more and somehow be more... and it has really cost me a lot in my life.

Overachieving is celebrated in our society in business, school, sports and more. But the drive to be an overachiever can come with surprising problems and high costs, like low self-esteem, a lack of self-confidence and a deep fear of what others think of you. Here's how to start fulfilling your full potential without all the overachiever problems.