Present Perfect

Treating perfectionism is difficult in part because perfectionists tend to take even the process of overcoming perfectionism extremely seriously, criticizing themselves for perceived mistakes in the therapeutic process and judging themselves harshly if they feel their progress has been too slow. Because mindfulness does not ask that perfectionists stop anxious thoughts and feelings, only that they recognize them for what they are, mindfulness-based therapies are ideal for treating perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Present Perfect, the first book to offer this revolutionary new way of overcoming perfectionism, presents practical strategies to help readers make peace with their aversion to uncertainty.

Each five-minute exercise in this book helps readers practice a new skill drawn from Buddhist psychology for recognizing their ability to change their behavior, tolerating uncertainty, enhancing performance by reducing anxious and perfectionistic feelings, and refraining from judging themselves and others harshly. Readers may work through this book in order or simply open the book to any page and find a skills-building exercise to practice that day. This free-form approach to treating perfectionism helps readers avoid falling back on rigid patterns and self-blaming tendencies, allowing them to fully accept the moment as they learn to fully accept themselves.