Episode 26: Understanding Perfectionism and How it Affects Health with Zoe Blaskey

20 Jan

Healthily | 01/20/22

Today's conversation is with Zoe Blaskey of the Motherkind podcast. As a self-declared 'recovering perfectionist' and transformational coach, I thought she would be the ideal person to speak to about perfectionism, a trait that I see so frequently in the clinic with the clients I work with. While perfectionism has its benefits, it can be a real blocking factor in improving relationships with food, or just getting started on a path to better health, even if both outcomes are really desired! I hope you find this episode of interest and help.

TAKEAWAYs

✔️ Recognizing Perfectionism – Common signs include all-or-nothing thinking, procrastination, fear of failure, and difficulty letting others help. Awareness is the first step to change.

✔️ Healthy Striving vs. Perfectionism – Healthy striving is internally motivated, encourages doing your best, and is sustainable. Perfectionism is externally driven, exhausting, and often tied to seeking validation from others.

✔️ Starting Small – Change begins with laughably small steps. For example, adding one extra portion of vegetables a week or sending an email without over-checking. Small wins help retrain the mind and nervous system, providing evidence that “good enough” is sufficient.

✔️ Understanding Origins – Many perfectionist tendencies stem from childhood experiences, social pressures, or internalized messages about mistakes and success. Reflecting on these origins fosters self-compassion and insight.

✔️ Practical Tools for Change –

Notice what triggers perfectionist behavior.
Question whether a belief or action is serving you.
Experiment with new behaviors and observe the results.
Celebrate progress, not just perfection.

✔️ Impact on Parenting – Children learn from observation, not words. Modeling healthy coping, self-compassion, and realistic expectations teaches children that trying is enough, and mistakes are part of learning.

✔️ Benefits of Letting Go – Reducing perfectionist tendencies frees up time, reduces stress, improves health, and allows more energy for meaningful activities, relationships, and creativity.

Zoe emphasizes: Perfectionism can feel like a chokehold, but with awareness, small steps, and consistent practice, it’s possible to live more freely, productively, and authentically.