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In this self-help book about managing one's perfectionism and inner self-critic, Ellen Hendriksen, Ph.D. takes a personal and extremely relatable approach to discovering self-acceptance. I felt as though she was speaking directly to me in conversation as she included anecdotes from her practice as well as her own life, discussing all the of ways perfectionism manifests itself, all of the root causes for perfectionism, and all of the ways we as perfectionists sabotage our own happiness and sense of self-worth.

But rather than take the approach of how to CHANGE one's perfectionism, she gently advises accepting my inner critic as part of my personality, without allowing it to control me. I am the one in control--not my perfectionism. I can still hold high standards for myself and others, but I can also allow myself the freedom to be flawed and vulnerable and authentic in the way I treat myself and relate to others. I do not need to strive to be anything other than who and what I am.

I especially loved how she brought in examples of Fred Rogers and Walt Disney as opposing examples of how perfectionism manifests itself in healthy and unhealthy ways.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this advance copy. I've recommended this book to everyone I know: my children, my friends, my spouse, my life coach. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy for my bookshelf so that I can continue to consult these wise words that spoke to me so clearly.