Wael Mansour

“As a recovering perfectionist and an aspiring good-enoughist, I’ve found it extremely helpful to bust some of the myths about perfectionism so that we can develop a definition that accurately captures what it is and what it does to our lives. Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving to be your best. Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth. Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect, and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame. It’s a shield. Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from taking flight. Perfectionism is not self-improvement. Perfectionism is, at its core, about trying to earn approval and acceptance. Most perfectionists were raised being praised for achievement and performance (grades, manners, rule-following, people-pleasing, appearance, sports). Somewhere along the way, we adopt this dangerous and debilitating belief system: I am what I accomplish and how well I accomplish it. Please. Perform. Perfect. Healthy striving is self-focused—How can I improve? Perfectionism is other-focused—What will they think?”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

“يومًا ما سأقرأ هذه الكتب وأصير رائعًا .. لكن ليس اليوم !”
― أحمد خالد توفيق

“غزو العراق قد تم ورأيت أننا مسيرون إلى أن نتحول إلى كائنات منقرضة بالية .. الهنود الحمر ماتوا وهم يقاتلون لكننا سنموت ونحن نتفرج ونتصل بـ( ستار أكاديمي ) .. وحينما ينتفض الشارع العربي يكن هذا لأجل منع مسلسل الأطفال ( بوكيمون ) .. الحقيقة أن إسرائيل سعيدة الحظ إذ وجدتنا خصومها .. يلذ لي أن اتخيل مصيرها لو كان جيرانها صينيين أو يابانيين !”
― أحمد خالد توفيق

“Freedom is anxiety's petri dish. If routine blunts anxiety, freedom incubates it. Freedom says, "Even if you don't want to make choices, you have to, and you can never be sure you have chosen correctly." Freedom says, "Even not to choose is to choose." Freedom says, "So long as you are aware of your freedom, you are going to experience the discomfort that freedom brings." Freedom says, "You're on your own. Deal with it.”
― Daniel B. Smith, Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety