Perfectionism is a shadow driver of so many high achievers. It helps us get the job done. But at what cost?

In today’s episode, we cozy up to the realities of the perfectionism paradigm. We look at its different flavors and the ways we might experience it in our own lives. What standards do we hold ourselves to? What about the people around us? Our family? Colleagues? Friends? Community members? And what about the standards that we inherit from the cultures we live in and move through?

The alternative to chasing an impossible standard is simple. We have to set our own. Rather than aligning our actions with an unachievable ideal, we have to connect our focus to what actually matters most. As defined by – you guessed it – you! Which does require that we know what we value. For this reason, we close today’s podcast with an invitation to reflect – a chance to be honest with ourselves about our own relationship with perfectionism and to consider what’s actually important to us. From the strength of our own convictions emerges the possibility of a whole new way of leading in and living our lives.