logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
1h 11m

The Science Of Overcoming Perfectionism ...

10% Happier
About this episode

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.

---

Actionable advice on working with one of the few socially acceptable vices.

Whilst striving for perfection might seem logical on some level, it’s not actually attainable. And the research shows it can lead to burnout, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, reduced productivity, and reduced resilience.

Thomas Curran is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Behavioral Science at the London School of Economics and is the author of The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • The definition of perfectionism – it’s more than just high standards
  • The 3 flavors of perfectionism
  • The surprising findings on perfectionism and gender 
  • Perfectionism VS imposter syndrome 
  • The root of perfectionism 
  • The variables that lead to perfectionism 
  • Thomas’ critiques on capitalism and growth mindset
  • How to actually implement mantras like “progress not perfection” and “embracing good enough”
  • 4 elements to combat imperfectionism 
  • The recipe for achieving inner abundance
  • How to make good work without caring what other people think of you?
  • And parenting and perfectionism 

Related Episodes:

Sign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Ten Percent Happier online bookstore

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/thomas-curran

Additional Resources:

Up next
Yesterday
The Science Of Manifestation: Can This Stanford Neuroscientist Convince A Skeptical Dan To Give It A Shot? | Dr. James R. Doty
Six practical steps to harness the full power of your mind. Our guest today is James R. Doty, a neurosurgeon who has just written a whole book about the science of manifestation – although, as you’ll hear him admit, there’s very little ‘magic’ involved in his process. James R. Do ... Show More
1h 16m
Jul 7
Ezra Klein On: Sane News Consumption; The Power of Meditation; The Future of the Species; And the Message of His Tattoo
On maintaining sanity in insane times. Ezra Klein is an opinion columnist and host of the award-winning Ezra Klein Show podcast at The New York Times. His latest book is Abundance, co-authored with Derek Thompson. He is also the author of Why We’re Polarized, an instant New York ... Show More
1h 15m
Jul 6
How Meditation Can Help You Handle Injured Feelings and Injured Muscles | Dawn Mauricio
Plus: How to build a meditation practice you keep coming back to. We’re in the midst of an exciting evolution of the overall 10% Happier project. In our quest to make this podcast more actionable – to help you operationalize all the game-changing ideas you encounter on this pod – ... Show More
24m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
34 — Stop Being a Perfectionist and Embrace Your Imperfections with Professor Thomas Curran
Perfectionism takes a serious toll on your mental health and well-being. It's often driven by the fear of not being good enough and involves a desire to get validation from others. It often leads to anxiety, depression, and loneliness.Fortunately, there are some things that can h ... Show More
39m 59s
Sep 2021
749 - The Truth About Perfectionism
Get this episode ad-free when you join TLBC+ today: https://tlbc.co/join In this episode, I share the truth about perfectionism. Get excited, because this is Tiny Leaps, Big Changes. Welcome to another episode of Tiny Leaps, Big Changes where I share research-backed strategies yo ... Show More
16m 5s
Jan 2024
Avoid The Perfection Trap | Thomas Curran
In today’s episode, we tackle perfectionism with Thomas Curran. Thomas is an associate professor in the Department of Psychological and Behavioral Science at the London School of Economics, and the author of The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough. We tackle the c ... Show More
1h 2m
Jun 2024
How to Fight Perfectionism
Holding yourself to impossibly high standards is self-defeating and makes for a miserable life. Can Dr Laurie Santos find ways to tackle her constant perfectionism so she can perform better and have more fun?  She hears from researcher Thomas Curran about a worrying growth in per ... Show More
29m 43s
Nov 2022
Digging Deeper on Perfectionism
Many high performers go through their working lives struggling with perfectionism and not even realizing it - or not understanding why they have such a need to achieve. In this episode, we continue the conversation around the roots of perfectionism, how to know if it is a problem ... Show More
54m 42s
Jun 2023
World Expert On Why Perfectionism Is Your Enemy And How To Overcome It - Professor Thomas Curran
Most of us know perfectionism as the relentless pursuit of flawlessness, our fatal flaw of having a constant need to meet impossibly high standards. It's a trait that many of us strive for, believing that it will lead to success and happiness. But what if I told you that this con ... Show More
1h 38m
Jul 2022
Perfectionism: When good is never good enough, with Gordon Flett, PhD, and Bonnie Zucker, PsyD
Perfectionism might seem like a minor hurdle to overcome – or even a welcome personality trait. But perfectionism is different from simply striving for excellence and perfectionistic people are at higher risk for anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders. Perfectionis ... Show More
33m 30s
Oct 2023
Which kind of perfectionist are you?
Join me on Substack HERE. Do you struggle with perfectionism? Do you understand the science around it? Are you more of a socially prescribed perfectionist or a self oriented perfectionist? What does that even mean? In this episode with Professor of Psychology at the London School ... Show More
46m 35s
Sep 2023
Outsmarting Perfectionism: The Hidden Costs of Self-Sabotage and How to Beat It with Thomas Curran
#421 Outsmarting Perfectionism: The Hidden Costs of Self-Sabotage and How to Beat It with Thomas Curran ----- Action Plan: https://jimharshawjr.com/ACTION Free Clarity Call: https://jimharshawjr.com/APPLY  Shocking truths about perfectionism and performance.  Are you stuck in the ... Show More
30m 49s
Jun 2023
The Power of 'Good Enough': Tom Curran
Perfectionism is often seen as a desirable trait in modern society. But, the reality is, it leads to procrastination - and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and burnout. In a world that celebrates the idea of your 'Best Self', and always being better than you were ye ... Show More
58m 9s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami