Present Perfect: A Mindfulness Approach to Letting Go of Perfectionism and the Need for Control

Pavel G Somov

Jun 2010 · New Harbinger Publications

About this ebook

A revolutionary approach to overcoming perfectionism! A recent, randomized study—published by Mindfulness Journal—shows that Present Perfect is effective as a standalone intervention. The study found that those who had read the book experienced a statistically significant reduction of self-criticalness, a result that was still maintained at a six weeks follow-up (Wimberley, Mintz, & Suh, Mindfulness, Nov. 2015).
 
While there's no doubt that setting high standards for yourself is a good thing, you've probably already noticed that perfectionism can come at a high price. And when you take steps to try to change, it's easy to be too hard on yourself and fall into the same traps that keep you feeling stressed and disappointed. This book presents a revolutionary approach to overcoming perfectionism—a way to transform your need for precision into self-acceptance, compassion, and love for each perfectly imperfect passing moment in our lives.
 
In Present Perfect, you'll use the Buddhist psychology of mindfulness to learn to accept the present moment in all of its ordinary perfection. This book is filled with over 150 exercises and meditations that you can practice to become more flexible toward yourself and others without losing your love of a job well done. With this compassionate approach, you'll soon be able not only to accept life as it is, but also become more accepting and forgiving of yourself and others.
 

Ratings and reviews

This book provides common-sense strategies for breaking free from perfectionism and seeing the world from a different perspective. I found the exercises to be helpful even if I just read the descriptions of some without taking the time to practice every single one. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to understand the illogical nature of perfectionism and strategies for breaking free from it

Good

About the author

Pavel Somov, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Pittsburgh, PA. After serving in the Soviet military and completing his undergraduate degree at Moscow State Pedagogical University, he immigrated to the United States to pursue a career in psychology. He received his doctorate from State University of New York at Buffalo. Somov is author of Eating the Moment, Present Perfect, and the upcoming Smoke Break and The Lotus Effect.