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Be Happy Without Being Perfect: How to Break Free from the Perfection Deception Audiobook
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(3.06) - 185 listener ratings
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BONUS: Includes the quiz: How Much of a Perfectionist Are You?*
Do you have trouble going to bed at night when there’s a mess in the kitchen? Do you think you would be happier if only you could lose weight, be a better parent, work smarter, reduce stress, exercise more, and make better decisions? You’re not perfect. But guess what? You don’t have to be. All of us struggle with high expectations from time to time. But for many women, the worries can become debilitating–and often, we don’t even know we’re letting unrealistic expectations color our thinking. The good news is, we have the power to break free from the perfectionist trap–and internationally renowned health psychologist, Dr. Alice Domar can show you how.
BE HAPPY WITHOUT BEING PERFECT offers a way out of the self-imposed handcuffs that this thinking brings, providing concrete solutions, practical advice, and action plans that teach you how to: Assess your tendency toward perfectionism in all areas of your life • Set realistic goals • Alleviate the guilt and shame that perfectionism can trigger • Manage your anxiety with clinically proven self-care strategies • Get rid of the unrealistic and damaging expectations that are hurting you–for good!
BE HAPPY WITHOUT BEING PERFECT is your key to a happier, calmer, and more enjoyable life.
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"This book had a lot of great tips for overcoming perfectionist tendencies - however, I think it was meant for people who are just realizing that they're perfectionists. As a professional perfectionist since junior high, some of this was a little elementary for me - but it was still a good read. "
— Sarah (4 out of 5 stars)
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..A wonderful antidote for the anxious, depressed woman for whom no level of achievement seems to be enough. Doctor Domar fills her easy-to-read book with real life examples from her own practice and offers sold, innovative advice for dealing with unreasonable expectations of life and of self.
— Marianne J. Legato, M.D., founder and director, Foundation for Gender-Specific Medicine"Finally the message all women need to hear. It is time to stop beating yourself up and read Be Happy Without Being Perfect. It will save your life! -
Smartly written, greatly insightful...there's not a woman I know who wouldn't benefit from reading this book. Take in its lessons and you will find a deeper level of contentment and satisfaction in each day. This is essential reading for every woman.
— Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., associate professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University and author of the bestselling Strong Women book series. -
“Giving up perfect sets women on the road to true and sustainable health. If you feel trapped in any way by the need to have a perfect body, a perfect house, or perfect life on any level–you need this book. Now!
— Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom, The Wisdom of Menopause, and Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom -
Perfection is the enemy of happiness. Dr. Domar teaches us to be more accepting of ourselves so we don't live in fear of failure.
— Mehmet Oz, M.D., professor of surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Medical Center -
Reading Be Happy Without Being Perfect allows women to exhale-- finally. We women are so tough on ourselves, that it takes a masterful advisor to get us to step back and think about changing our daily thoughts as well as our habits. Reading this book is like having a truly close friend, who you trust, and who just happens to be a psychologist, nutritionist and coach. The book is wise, humane, and it goes down easy. I enjoyed reading it- what's more, I have zeroxed a few of the pages and put them up in strategic zones ( bathroom mirror, refrigerator door). There is something in this book for just about every woman I know.—Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., professor of sociology, University of Washington and author of Prime: Adventures and Advice about Love and Sex and the Sensual Years“We strive for perfection in everything we do…Work, the kids, the meals, and trying to be the dutiful spouse. But where does happiness fit into that equation? Not to worry. Dr. Ali Domar tackles all the misconceptions (and misplaced pressures) and gets you back on the right track. Be Happy Without Being Perfect gives you permission to be you, to be good enough, and find happiness along the way. It’s a must for each and every one of us.
— Nancy Snyderman, M.D., chief medical editor NBC News -
In her work as a psychologist, Domar (Conquering Infertility: Dr. Alice Domar's Mind/Body Guide to Enhancing Fertility and Coping with Infertility ) found that many of her clients felt overwhelmed, depressed, and out of control in trying to live up to the media's depictions of women as perfect mothers, spouses, hostesses, and decision makers. Together with fitness writer Kelly, Domar here shows that perfectionism has been an issue for American women since colonial times, long before Martha Stewart made the scene. In her survey of more than 50 women whose observations and advice appear throughout the text, Domar identifies six areas of perfectionism: health and personal appearance, housekeeping, work, relationships, parenting, and decision making. In each of these areas, she demonstrates how the technique of cognitive restructuring, or "retraining your brain," can be used to reframe common distortions in thinking and result in realistic expectations and happier lives. Many women will recognize themselves in the descriptions given by Domar and her respondents, and even nonperfectionists can benefit from her advice on decision making and coping with everyday stressors (e.g., journaling, meditation). Recommended for self-help and women's health collections in public libraries.
— Library Journal
Be Happy Without Being Perfect Listener Reviews
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" Very well-written, well-researched book on how not to be a perfectionist. "
— Starr, 2/20/2014 -
" This was an interesting book. I have a lot of issues with perfectionism, so it definitely applied to me. I liked how the author presented examples of how her solutions would be applied in a variety of situations. Although I don't think it's strong enough to be the *only* book of its kind that I rely on, it will be a valuable tool in my arsenal against perfectionism. "
— Heather, 2/12/2014 -
" This book was pretty interesting and I liked the way it was written. "
— Chelsea, 1/31/2014 -
" I didn't read this cover to cover, but really liked what I did read. Its started me down a path of rediscovery for myself and my pursuit of happiness and perfection. "
— Jenny, 1/23/2014 -
" This author made a LOT of sense, and I think some chapters of the book actually helped me. She isn't saying anything original, but she's using real-life examples and interviews from real-life people like me who suffer from perfectionist tendencies. I felt like I was reading my own story. "
— Karen, 1/16/2014 -
" In my opinion, this is a good "starter" book about dealing with perfectionism. It does a good job of allowing you to identify the areas of your life where you struggle with perfectionism which is a good place to start if you'd like to free yourself of that pressure. I am a fan of Alice Domar, so I don't think you can go wrong with any of her work. "
— Jen, 12/25/2013 -
" I could have written this book! Hehe, but this was a really good reading experience for me. I think this book could really benefit anybody. Now, I must say I did NOT agree with everything she said, but what I did like...was like good medicine ;), and I really needed it. "
— Virginia, 12/20/2013 -
" This book is very benefical it drags on a bit though "
— Ashley, 12/16/2013 -
" This book is very well done! A good resource for those who feel like they have a hard time overcoming the tendency to be perfect and/or right in any category of their life. "
— Kirsten, 11/27/2013 -
" I failed the quiz at the front of the book. I am not, by its estimation a perfectionist at anything. Being a perfectionist at heart, I couldn't handle this slacker label. "
— Adrienne, 11/27/2013 -
" While reading this, I thought it was a good book, but it must not have been Earth shattering. It's a year later, and I can't remember much of the advice, and I certainly did not put it into practice. Maybe that's more my fault than the books, though... "
— Melanie, 11/6/2013 -
" started strong and then fell flat - very repetetive "
— Gillian, 12/28/2012 -
" This book helps to ground me... I read it every year or so. "
— Samantha, 2/28/2010 -
" Thanks for sending this to me, Kristin! It was great - lots of things rang true for me and there were many good suggestions. "
— Heather, 11/19/2009 -
" A real eye-opener for me. Loved it, learned tons. This is the first self-help book I have read and felt it was worth it's weight. "
— Tammy, 9/1/2009 -
" This book gave me a lot to think about - and feel hopeful about. I will probably return to it more than once for reminders as I try to learn to think more positively and be gentler with myself. "
— Heather, 8/25/2009 -
" I failed the quiz at the front of the book. I am not, by its estimation a perfectionist at anything. Being a perfectionist at heart, I couldn't handle this slacker label. "
— Adrienne, 8/1/2009 -
" This book is very benefical it drags on a bit though "
— Ashley, 6/10/2009 -
" I didn't read this cover to cover, but really liked what I did read. Its started me down a path of rediscovery for myself and my pursuit of happiness and perfection. "
— Jenny, 1/17/2009 -
" This book helps to ground me... I read it every year or so. "
— Samantha, 12/16/2008
About Karen White
Karen White has been narrating audiobooks of all genres since 1999. Honored to be included in AudioFile’s Best Voices, she’s also a four-time Audie Finalist and has earned multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards and Library Journal starred reviews.