The Perfectionist Predicament

Perfectionists take good qualities--drive, ambition, and high standards--and turn them into disadvantages that hurt rather than help. This book offers a clear, useful analysis of different types of perfectionism and explains how to solve the problem.

Honored in 2006 as a "Year's Best Book for Preachers" by Preaching magazine. Perfect body. Perfect clothes. Perfect family. Perfect house. Perfect job. We strive for excellence in all areas of our lives. And there's nothing wrong with a healthy, mature pursuit of excellence. But what begins as healthy and normal can sometimes become neurotic and abnormal, leading to debilitating thoughts and behaviors: eating disorders anxiety and depression obsession and compulsions fear of failure relational dysfunction In Perfecting Ourselves to Death, Richard Winter explores the positive and negative effects of perfectionism on our lives. He looks at the seductive nature of perfectionism as it is reflected in today's media. He examines the price and perils of perfectionism. And he explores the roots of perfectionism, delving into what originally awakens this drive in us. After analyzing the negative feelings and defeatist behaviors that unhealthy perfectionism births, he provides practical strategies for how to change. "The important thing to see," writes Winter, "is that we are to strive to become better people, not just to be content with who we are or how we measure up to the standards of the culture around us." For Christians this means becoming more like Christ in every area of our lives. Here is the "perfect" book for those who struggle with perfectionism and for those pastors, counselors and friends who want to understand and help perfectionists.

Award-winning fitness professional and consultant shares a practical, accessible program to help women replace destructive perfectionistic mindsets with concrete strategies and life-changing tips. Tired. Stressed. Overwhelmed. Just one more email, one more meeting with the kid's teacher, oh and lose that last five pounds. Today, women are striving for perfection more than ever -- and feeling like failures for not meeting unattainable goals. Health and wellness expert Petra Kolber knows this intimately; as a dancer and fitness professional, she's experienced the ultimately dissatisfying quest for perfection. Her Perfection Detox program helps women to overcome the unhealthy, unproductive demands we place on ourselves -- and others. Based on her popular workshops, Kolber's strategies help women to recognize and constructively root out the perfectionistic impulse to be critical of self or others and to harness the power of our own internal resources, willpower, and habits. With simple steps and strategies such as adjusting your internal monologue, cleaning up your vocabulary to include more positive language, becoming a passionist rather than a perfectionist, and more, The Perfection Detox is an essential guide to a healthy, full, authentic life.

Investigates the characteristics of perfectionistic gifted adolescents in a rural middle school, how they perceived their perfectionism, the influences on their perfectionism, & the consequences of their perfectionistic behaviors in the context of their rural middle school experiences. Qualitative & quantitative methods of data collection were employed to gather data from 20 gifted adolescents identified as having perfectionistic tendencies. Semi-structured interviews, record & document review, self-report teacher survey, & participant observation were used to identify factors that may influence the perceptions & behaviors of this population.

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American Girls by Nancy Jo Sales | Summary & Analysis Preview: American Girls, by journalist Nancy Jo Sales, is the result of a two-and-a-half-year investigation into how social media is shaping the development of girls in America today and, by extension, what this means for fostering self-esteem and self-respect. Sales interviewed more than 200 subjects, girls ranging from 13 to 19 years old, querying them on the new social norms that have been set by the explosion of social media over the last five years and how this plays out in their daily lives. Sales traveled to ten states across the country and spoke to girls from diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. She discovered that the effects of social media on girls of all strata are startlingly similar: the steady stream of online interactions has drastically changed the way girls conduct and, more importantly, conceive of and value themselves, often to damaging effects. Girls coming of age… PLEASE NOTE: This is key takeaways and analysis of the book and NOT the original book. Inside this Instaread Summary of American Girls · Overview of the book · Important People · Key Takeaways · Analysis of Key Takeaways About the Author With Instaread, you can get the key takeaways, summary and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

Is perfectionism, and the shame of never being or doing enough, running your life? Are you beating yourself up for being less than perfect? It's time to take our understanding of perfectionism to an entirely new level. Over the course of 22 letters the author guides the reader on a journey of self-discovery, sharing his experience and offering a holistic solution to the pain of perfectionism. Find out how to replace shame with love as the primary motivating force for your life. Is perfectionism, and the shame of never being or doing enough, running your life? Are you beating yourself up for being less than perfect? It's time to take our understanding of perfectionism to an entirely new level. That's what Letters to a Perfectionist: On Shame, Fear, Love, and the Surprising Spiritual Nature of Perfectionism is all about. Author Tad Frizzell took the perfectionistic tendencies which began to drive him in the early years of childhood and applied them to every aspect of his life. He didn't realize how much it would cost him. The crisis of burnout which ensued after 16 years in a monastery driving himself to this elusive perfection raised the stakes to the level of life or death. This book is a product of one man's deep exploration of the self, and what it means to refuse to love and accept yourself in a state of imperfection. There's a revolution happening in the understanding of perfectionism. At its worst, it's not just a way of thinking or a way of achieving more. It's a way of being in the world. Perfectionism is a spiritual problem which transcends religious creeds and culture. The refusal to love and accept oneself in a state of imperfection can lead a person into depression, anxiety, obsessive and compulsive behavior, eating disorders, self-harm, and substance abuse. It can even lead to suicide. Letters to a Perfectionist is a collection of 22 letters which exposes the roots of perfectionism and the way it manifests in our lives and relationships. The author writes from his own experience, and raises questions about perfectionism you won't find other people asking. From the first letter to the last, Tad Frizzell takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery. The final destination is a place of unconditional love and gratitude. Tad Frizzell's book makes the reader feel cherished, while giving a clear path to self understanding. There's never been a book quite like this before. In this book you will learn: - Why perfectionism is best viewed as a spiritual problem - The pervasive nature of perfectionism - The neuroscience behind - The impact of perfectionism on our relationships - What motivates perfectionists - How perfectionism can cause a crisis of identity - About the need for security and the strategy of control - The dangers of spiritual perfectionism - How a perfectionist eventually "burns out" - How we can choose to transform the burnout from darkness into light - The power of observation and self-empathy - What a new way of being looks like - The power of connecting the mind and the heart - How to transform self-hatred into self-compassion - The beauty of a life marked by forgiveness, love, and gratitude - The surprising treasures hidden inside the perfectionist...and how to uncover them Are you concerned that you are suffering from perfectionism, that refusal to love and accept yourself in a state of imperfection? Do you see someone you love suffering, believing they will never measure up to the unrealistic expectations they have set or adopted for themselves? Then you need to understand the problem. One early reader of Letters to a Perfectionist told the author: "There are so many poignant phrases throughout the book that I can open up to any page and find something to inspire me - and also inform my work as a therapist." Don't wait until it's too late! Buy Letters to a Perfectionist and begin your journey from perfectionistic pain to healing and wholeness t

Like the Martha of Jesus' day, so many women are preoccupied with being the perfect hostess, wife, mother, worker that it leaves many of them angry, frenzied, and depressed. In Martha to the Max, Debi Stack uses humor to bring great relief and encouragement to today's Marthas. This entertaining adventure will help readers view and use their abilities in a way that brings a smile to the face of God. Debi gives plenty of practical tips on slowing down and focusing on the 'one thing' Jesus said is needed.

Christians everywhere beat themselves up over sins that their heavenly Father has long since forgiven and forgotten. In "Let It Go," Atteberry leads us to let go of inferiority, perfectionism, criticism, and shame, and hold on to abundance, grace, salvation, and joy.