The Anxiety Loop Doesn't Stop
Inspired by on Lenny's Podcast
A billionaire says the anxiety loop in his head didn't go away when he got rich - it was the same loop at $20 million and $300 million - which is why getting the routine 'perfect' won't make parenting feel perfect either.
Andrew Wilkinson had a realization in his sauna.
'Ten years ago I had all the same thoughts and I was stressed about similar kinds of problems and our revenue was $20 million. Now we're at almost $300 million and I'm still stressed about the same things.'
Parents chase the same phantom.
Once the baby sleeps through the night, I'll feel calm. Once we nail the feeding routine, I'll relax. Once potty training is done, parenting will be easier.
But the anxiety loop continues. There's always the next thing.
'Whatever's in your brain, whatever that anxiety loop is, doesn't go away just because you have a bigger house or more money in the bank account. That's a chemical reaction happening inside you.'
The problem isn't the routine. The problem is the loop.
The routine will never be perfect enough to silence the anxious voice. You have to address the voice itself.
PM Theme: Internal state matters more than external conditions
Parenting Theme: Your anxiety won't be solved by fixing the routine
“Ten years ago I had all the same thoughts and I was stressed about similar kinds of problems and our revenue was $20 million. Now we're at almost $300 million and I'm still stressed about the same things.”Andrew Wilkinson · 01:08:04
“Whatever's in your brain, whatever that anxiety loop is, doesn't go away just because you have a bigger house or more money in the bank account. That's a chemical reaction happening inside you.”Andrew Wilkinson · 01:07:12
