Anxiety and ambition often go hand in hand—but we rarely talk about that openly, especially in the context of leadership. Morra Aarons-Mele, author of The Anxious Achiever and host of the award-winning podcast of the same name, has built a career helping high performers understand and reframe the role anxiety plays in their lives. In our conversation, which has been lightly edited for length and clarity, she shares why anxiety doesn’t have to be a weakness, how anxious achievers can set boundaries without losing drive, and why learning to work with our inner critic—rather than against it—can be a powerful force for growth.

JW: What does the term “anxious achiever” mean to you and how can we begin to reframe anxiety not as a weakness but as a potential source of strength?

MAM: An anxious

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