This is the 10% happier podcast. I'm Dan Harris. Hello how we doing everybody I am not the first to make this observation but perfectionism

has become one of the very few socially acceptable vices you can brag or humble brag about how you struggle with perfectionism, but it's one of those things that's not

embarrassing and is almost like a badge of honor. However, it should not be because perfectionism

can be incredibly damaging.

While striving for perfection

might seem logical and laudable on some level,

perfection is actually not attainable

and the research shows that the pursuit of it can lead to burn out stress, anxiety, depression,

relationship problems, reduced productivity, and reduced resilience in the face of life's inevitable vexations and vicissitudes.

My guest today is Thomas Curran, author of The Perfection Trap, Embracing the Power of Good

Enough.

He's a professor in the Department of Psychological and

behavioral science at the London School of Economics and in this conversation we

talk about the definition of perfectionism. It is, by the way, more than just having high standards, the three

flavors of perfectionism, the surprising findings on perfectionism and gender,

the difference between perfectionism and imposter syndrome, the roots of perfectionism, the variables that lead

to it for ways to combat perfectionism, the recipe for achieving inner abundance,

how to make good work without caring

what other people think about you,

and parenting and perfectionism.

This is a fascinating conversation

that it has stuck with me in the week since we conducted it. I suspect it will have the same effect on you. Thomas Curran coming up.

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