Stern Therapy

One of the most common and pernicious things I encounter with clients is perfectionism. Often, those who have perfectionist tendencies will start therapy and almost instantly feel bad that they "don't know how to do it properly". They are constantly evaluating their 'performance', and often feel they are coming up short because of some personal deficiency. In Daring Greatly, Brené Brown talks about perfectionism as a form of shame. The article below outlines the negative impacts of perfectionism, particularly for millennials and how it differs from what some call 'healthy striving'. It also encourages people to seek help sooner than later. What is your relationship to perfectionism?

As millennials strive for perfection, anxiety and depression increase | The Star So many millennials are suffering from the ills of perfectionism that psychologists are issuing warnings and schools are emphasizing the need to both strive and accept failure.

Here we are. Day 1 of back to school madness, such a mix of emotions at this time of year. For many people, it is the beginning of a new year with all the pressures and hopes that go along with that. I sometimes feel like a squirrel, running around gathering metaphorical nuts, yelling "WINTER IS COMING!!!!" I also feel a pressure to change. Change a behaviour, change a feeling, change how I feel about change. This pressure can often result in a kind of hyper-self evaluation as I ask myself, can I do it? This year I want to focus on letting go of things I no longer need. Instead of trying to 'fix' something within myself, to invite the parts of self that are weighing me down and ready to go to EXIT THE BUILDING. I challenge you to do the same.