I’m very good at looking like I have it together
Fifteen minutes into a podcast, I told the host I was nervous. The anxiety stayed, and we kept talking.
Writing
Stories and reflections on the performance trap and the mind-body connection, from my life and work.
Begin here
It’s still hard for me to ask
I was sitting with some hard news. Melissa was in the next room. Asking her to hold me was the difficult part.
My father thinks the book is selfish
Two dinners with my father, a disagreement about my book, and how we stayed at the table.
Recent writing
My wife, Melissa, was invisible to me
My book came out. I kept chasing the finish line. This is what happened during launch week.
The epilogue I can’t change
My cousin asked whether I could relax after the launch. My answer brought me back to being fourteen.
My grandfather taught me how to win
He was my best friend when I was being bullied. He taught me what had worked for him.
All writing
My wife, Melissa, was invisible to me
My book came out. I kept chasing the finish line. This is what happened during launch week.
Performing for Connection
Why conversation can feel like an audition, and what curiosity changes.
Why Do I Understand My Patterns but Still React the Same Way?
Why can you understand a pattern and still repeat it? Chad Herst explores reactions in the body and offers a brief practice for noticing the first signal.
When Your Self-Worth Depends on Being Productive
When unfinished work becomes a verdict about your worth, stopping can feel difficult. Chad Herst explores productivity pressure and offers an embodied practice.
Can You Stay Ambitious Without Making Success Your Measure of Worth?
Can you stay ambitious without making success your measure of worth? Chad Herst explores drive, fear and a practice for separating a goal from its pressure.
The epilogue I can’t change
My cousin asked whether I could relax after the launch. My answer brought me back to being fourteen.
My grandfather taught me how to win
He was my best friend when I was being bullied. He taught me what had worked for him.
My father thinks the book is selfish
Two dinners with my father, a disagreement about my book, and how we stayed at the table.
Before Trying to Relax the Tension
A tight jaw or a braced chest can give us something to explore. Conversations about what holding felt like.
When Someone Else’s Success Makes You Doubt Yourself
A conversation about comparison, self-doubt, and making room for your own judgment alongside other people’s advice.
Why Rest Feels Dangerous
Why slowing down can bring up anxiety, and how to notice it without making rest another task to do well.
Getting Curious About the Inner Critic
Chad Herst explores the inner critic through his own story and client conversations, including a moment when a client disagreed with his interpretation.