It might be a little harsh, but realize that when you view your self-imposed deadlines as ‘soft’ and you accept wiggle room, you respect your own deadlines less than deadlines imposed by others. Even worse, you respect yourself (and your goals, ambitions, and visions) less than others.
…or worse, you’re ready to live your life. We’ve all succumb to the trap of other people’s opinions. As Marcus Aurelius says, “It surprises me: How is it we care about ourselves more than anyone else yet value their opinions more than our own?”