In this episode of MindTricks Radio, I caught up with Dr. Liza Wacker to continue our conversation about perfectionism—what it is, where it comes from, and why it can quietly create so much stress, anxiety, burnout, and self-doubt.

We talk about the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism, how perfectionism shows up in relationships, parenting, work, athletics, creativity, procrastination, reassurance-seeking, and social media. Dr. Wacker also explains why perfectionism is usually less about “doing your best” and more about tying your self-worth to whether you meet impossible standards.

I enjoyed a warm, practical, and thoughtful conversation with Dr. Wacker about learning to make mistakes, loosen unrealistic expectations, and choose wholeness over flawlessness. Dr. Wacker brings a lot of wisdom and clarity to a topic that many people struggle with—but may not always recognize in themselves.