Our world today, you know, 2025, is turning into a perfectionistic climate all on its own between capitalism, consumerism, social media, advertising.

If we're put in an environment that makes us feel like we have to perform and achieve and consume to ever higher levels, of course we're going to respond by feeling like we're not good enough.

So have you ever poured your heart and soul into a project only to look at the final result and feel utterly deflated, like that sinking feeling of this isn't good enough, despite all your hard work?

I know I have more times than I can count,

whether it was writing or art or just about any creative endeavor, the inner critic voice

would pipe up telling me I'd had just kind of fallen short again. Perfectionism or overly harsh inner critics can be so hard

to shake, the constant striving to meet impossibly high standards and the self-judgment

when you inevitably miss the mark. You still do want to operate and deliver on a very high level.

That's still a big thing for me. I want to show up and give my best. One that makes

me feel amazing about what I do, but I'd also love a break from feeling like what I do and who I

am are never quite good enough. So what if I asked you to imagine a world where that harsh

inner critic lost its power? A world of self-acceptance, creativity,

genuine fulfillment, incredible self-expression, not based on flawless performance, but on self-compassion

and living by your deepest values. Well, if you're intrigued, then stick around because my guest today,

Dr. Ellen Hendrickson, may

just blow your mind. She is on a mission to help self-critics and perfectionists like maybe you

and probably me, quiet the inner voice of harsh judgment and still show up and do amazing things

in the world. Ellen is a clinical psychologist at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related

Disorders, and the author of the new book, How to Be Enough, Self-Exceptance for Self-Critics

and Perfectionists.

With a scientifically-based zero-judgment approach, she has helped countless people break free

from the perfectionism trap and cultivate true

...