Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) practitioner Kevin Menasco joins me on this episode to unpack the root causes of perfectionism and how to break through the barriers that get in the way of a creative practice.

Perfectionism is something that most, if not all, creative people deal with, and it’s something that Kevin sees in a lot of his clients. In our conversation, he describes how people typically cope with it and why even if it’s not at a clinical level, it can still cause problems in pursing creativity.

On a foundational level, Kevin suggests that we tap into the emotional or physical sensations that come up when we’re attached to certain outcomes. Maybe you want to create a museum-worthy painting or a bestselling novel, and the gap between where you are now and that end goal gives you a knot in your stomach or causes your mind to spiral. That’s usually enough of a signal to your brain that you’re outside of your comfort zone and should stop. So, how do you push past that?

Kevin shares tangible ways to give yourself a container for your creative practice that sets up opportunities for small wins. You’re more likely to return to something that feels good, and consistency is a key part of overcoming perfectionism. We also discuss tools for people at the opposite end of the spectrum who don’t have trouble getting started, but never feel like their work is truly finished or ready to be shared with the world.

Resources mentioned:

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.

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Perfectionism with Kevin Menasco, Clinical CBT Practitioner