I speak with Linda Kreter of the Podcast  Wise Health For Women Radio about how we all (especially women) get caught and stuck in perfectionism. Often seeking perfect is at the price of very good, and time, energy, and psyche is wasted. Today we break it down. Though high achievers are often wired for success, that isn’t always coupled with self-compassion. You can change your ways – Helping Women Thrive!

Listen to the podcast here:

The Trap Of Perfectionism

 

Some of what we discuss on this episode is:

What Perfectionism Really Is (And Why It Keeps Women Stuck)

Most high-achieving women think perfectionism is about high standards.

It’s not.

Perfectionism is a nervous system response.
It’s what happens when your body learned a long time ago that:

• mistakes weren’t safe,

• needs were “too much,”

• approval was survival,

• and the only way to stay loved was to perform.

Perfectionism is self-protection wearing a power blazer.

It’s your body saying,

“If I get it right, I won’t be rejected, punished, abandoned, embarrassed, or hurt.”

This is why perfectionism shows up with:

• food rules

• all-or-nothing dieting

• starting “perfectly” on Monday

• never feeling “ready enough” to change

• procrastinating the very things you want

• constantly feeling like you should be doing more

And here’s the truth no one talks about:

Perfectionism has nothing to do with discipline.

 

It’s an old survival pattern running your adult life.

Women who struggle with food, stress, weight, and burnout are rarely undisciplined.
They’re exhausted from managing nervous system overload.

When we do the deeper work of releasing stored stress, healing old beliefs, calming the fear-based protective parts— perfectionism stops running the show.

You stop gripping.
You stop performing.
You stop punishing your body into submission.

And suddenly…

• food loses its power

• weight releases naturally

• cravings calm down

• you take action without forcing yourself

• you feel safe being seen, supported, imperfect, and human

Because perfectionism was never about being perfect.
It was about feeling safe.

And safety can be healed.