All in the Mind

The perfection trap: do you feel 'good enough'?


Listen Later

It's not only the headliners at Glastonbury and winners at Wimbledon who strive for perfection in their lives. Psychologist Dr Tom Curran says people in all walks of life are prone to believing they're not quite "good enough". The pressure to be perfect can come from inside ourselves or from society, via social media as well as our friends and family. He says perfectionism isn't about doing things faultlessly - it's about feeling that you are never good enough even if you get a gold medal.

Tom Curran is a perfectionist himself and experienced burnout because of pressure from unachievable goals. Our studio guest Dr Peter Olusoga who's a sports psychologist says burnt-out athletes can end up withdrawing from their sport and resenting their coach if too much emphasis is placed on winning, instead of a more holistic approach. He also talks about how a study of teenagers at specialist "talent" schools in Norway might help to identify when students are under too much pressure as they try to balance practice with academic work and friendships.

The last All in the Mind Awards finalist is Trinia - a community psychiatric nurse who supported Rae even when she was rude to her. Trinia's persistence paid off - helping Rae to get an allotment and start painting has made her feel like life is worth living again.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

All in the MindBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

56 ratings


More shows like All in the Mind

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,722 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

881 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,040 Listeners

Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

398 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,463 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,806 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,818 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,065 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,931 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,059 Listeners

Health Check by BBC World Service

Health Check

93 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

266 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

435 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

300 Listeners

Inside Health by BBC Radio 4

Inside Health

83 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

247 Listeners

Bookclub by BBC Radio 4

Bookclub

243 Listeners

Word of Mouth by BBC Radio 4

Word of Mouth

53 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

144 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,186 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

756 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

60 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,628 Listeners

What's Up Docs? by BBC Radio 4

What's Up Docs?

107 Listeners