This audiobook was referred to me by a dear friend of mine, and I must say that it was delivered to me at a very pivotal time in my life. Personally, I’m on a new journey – recently walking into a new decade and in a place where my perspective has completely changed. Now I’ve never been a fan of audiobooks, I prefer the physical, page turning book in hand. However, in this new chapter I’m open to a lot of new things – big or small, so I decided to listen. This in turn, changed my perspective even more!
o Today, burnout and depression are at record levels, driven by a combination of intense workplace competition, oppressively ubiquitous social media encouraging comparisons with others, the quest for elite credentials, and helicopter parenting. Society continually broadcasts the need to want more, and to be perfect. Gathering a wide range of contemporary evidence, Curran offers “a clear-eyed look at how perfectionism and its capitalistic ‘obsession with boundless growth’ has contributed to mass discontent and insecurity” (Publishers Weekly). He shows what we can do as individuals to resist the modern-day pressure to be perfect, and in so doing, win for ourselves a more purposeful and contented life. Filled with “many useful lessons and valuable insights…This book offers an alternative path to a fulfilling, productive life” (Kirkus Reviews) and the relief of letting go to focus on what matters most.
Everything in this book makes perfect sense, breaking down and identifying the root cause for our need to be perfect. It is indeed a trap we’re placed in very early in life. It’s easy to blame our parents for such convictions, but where did they get it from? It can be described as a generational curse brought on by society and what it deems to be socially acceptable – education, career, financial/social status, health/beauty, the list goes on. Not to mention economic ploys and their advertisements and algorithms, bringing about that “keeping up with the Jones’” mentality. We simple radiate perfection because the world radiates perfection.
Who is the biggest culprit in this day in age? Social media. Perfectionism already opens doors to depression, fear, and anxiety – social media amplifies this on an immeasurable scale. This culture causes one to compare their life to what is seen while scrolling day in and day out. Am I skinny enough, pretty enough, rich enough, desirable enough to be socially acceptable – to be perfect in the eyes of others? Naturally, this has increased depression and suicide rates tremendously, especially amongst young people. I’m not that young, but I find myself comparing my life to others when scrolling. Also, I find myself posting for an audience that I truly don’t know and for what reason? To cover up insecurities and the fear of not being good enough.
I recommend this book to anyone who truly wants to tap into their authentic self and break free of society’s idea of what perfect looks like. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that cannot be changed around us but can be changed within us. There are tactics and ways to reprogram our way of thinking. My eyes have been open to a new way of living and doing things so that anxiety and stress can be lowered, if not completely removed. It’s like Curran states, it’s society that’s broken, not us.
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