When I was growing up my parents and teachers would say that it didn’t matter what marks I achieved if I tried my hardest and that I did my best.

They used to say this, but I felt even if I had worked as diligently as I could that it was not good enough. Those words do your best put pressure on me as my best was often not as good as other students best.

I heard an interview the other day with a person who found these words so stressful that they would get rashes and vomit as they felt they could never meet their parents’ expectations.

Their parents were very caring and accepting but those words do your best, try your hardest seemed to mean to this person that nothing they would do was good enough. This was his internal mantra not from outside pressure.

I am wondering what you the wonderful Moodscope community think of those words.

Do your best

Try your hardest.

Did you find those words inspire or put pressure on you?

Did your parents teachers say other words to encourage you that you found more helpful?

Leah