High Functioning: Why Feeling Like Quitting Means You're Winning

High Functioning: Why Feeling Like Quitting Means You're Winning

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This short solo episode of *Chasing Heroine* zooms in on that gut-wrenching feeling that you’re failing – and flips it on its head. Host Jeannine Coulter Lindgren shares how a 1966 sociological study, known as the “frog pond effect,” completely shifted her perspective. The research showed that people judge themselves less by their actual achievements and more by who they’re surrounded by.

A 3.8 GPA at Harvard can feel worse than the same GPA at a smaller state school, simply because the “pond” is different. Jeannine links this directly to addiction recovery. She talks about how moving from a small rehab meeting to a larger outside meeting, or switching fellowships, can make someone with 30 days sober suddenly feel like they know nothing. Yet nothing about their actual time, knowledge, or effort has changed.

As she puts it, “your environment outweighs your objectivity.” What makes this especially relevant for people in recovery is Jeannine’s idea of the “addict/alcoholic advantage.” Because many have already experienced this feeling in treatment settings and fellowships, they’re actually better positioned to recognise it in career, creativity, and life goals. She shares her own stories—from university, acting school in LA, and high-pressure podcast projects—where a bigger pond nearly convinced her to quit.

The heart of the message is simple but powerful: that urge to give up when you level up isn’t proof you’re failing; it’s often the clearest sign you’ve stepped into a larger life. If you’ve ever wondered, “Should I even be here?” this episode might help you see that doubt as evidence you’re right where you need to be. What bigger pond are you standing in today without giving yourself credit for the skills you brought with you?