Untangle How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists. With Dr. Ellen Hendriksen
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Oct 14, 2025 
Dr. Ellen Hendriksen, a clinical psychologist and author specializing in self-acceptance, dives into the complexities of perfectionism and self-criticism. She explains how perfectionism can lead to burnout and struggles with identity. Ellen offers valuable insights on shifting from self-judgment to kindness and emphasizes the importance of permitting mistakes as part of being human. Plus, she presents playful techniques for diffusing negative thoughts and encourages listeners to redefine failure while embracing their true selves.
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Give Yourself Task-Focused Feedback
- Replace evaluative self-talk with task-focused, information-based instructions.
- Turn the spotlight from personal criticism to practical steps for improving the work.
Treat Criticism Like Background Noise
- Practice cognitive diffusion: notice self-critical thoughts but don't treat them as facts.
- Make critical thoughts silly or external (songs, mugs, Muppets) to reduce their literal power.
Choose Values Over Fixed Goals
- Focus on values (continuous, intrinsic, controllable, freely chosen) rather than only outcomes.
- Let values guide repeated action and meaning, not rigid goal-checking.
