There's some baggage that comes with perfectionism and that baggage comes in the way of self-criticism

So when we haven't met those excessively high standards, we can turn on ourselves.

We can question our abilities, question our appearances, question our performances

And so yes, on the one hand perfectionists do appear to have this kind of, you know, hyperfunctioning, I guess you call it

But on the other hand, they can really be harsh on themselves and that harsh of criticism can culminate in some quite negative mental health problems

Well, that's the voice of Thomas Curran, assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Behavioral Science at the London School of Economics

And he's clear that we need to stop trying to be perfect

I'm Liz Arlan, this is the Lizl Wellbeing Show, the podcast helping us all to have a better second half

Very happy to have you joining me today and as I expect you to know by now, I'm really keen to find ways for us all to navigate aging well

and to thrive in later life by specifically investing in our health and our wellbeing today

And a big part of that of course is our mental attitude

More specifically perhaps how we look at life, both our own and the bigger picture stuff

And when it comes to perfectionism, I would have to hold my hand up as guilty as charged

I am forensic about detail, maybe it comes from being a brand founder and having my name on the tin

So to speak of any brand that I've created

So I feel it just has to be perfect in order to go well, you know, I'll agonise over the size and the shade of type on my magazine pages

For example, maybe wake up in the night bothered by the creases and a shirt I bought for speaking event

Oh my goodness, my other brand founders that I've met often seem to have the same mindset

Actually I was reminded of going to an opening of the newly refurbished John Frieda Salon in Mayfair

And this is a vast Emporium of state of the art lighting, acres of Carrera marble and mirrors

And I found John in the ladies' Lou scrubbing away microscopic particles of dust from the tile grout

I mean, I get it John, you know, if I had had a toothbrush in my pocket, I would have been right down on my knees to join you

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