Performance review season anxiety

Is it just me, or is the bar for 'exceeds' getting physically impossible to reach this year? I’ve been tracking my metrics and I’m hitting every KPI they set back in January, but my mid-year review felt like a setup for a PIP. They kept pushing back on my 'impact,' basically implying that unless I’m personally rebuilding the entire legacy stack from scratch, I’m not providing enough value. It feels like they’re trying to build a paper trail to justify cutting headcount without having to pay out the severance packages that come with a formal RIF. I’m seeing people who have been top performers for years suddenly being treated like they’re on thin ice. It’s a toxic atmosphere. I’m already brushing up my resume and keeping a copy of my performance history off the corporate drive. If you’re feeling the pressure, don’t take it personally—I’m pretty sure the targets were moved to make it easier to prune the tree.