Dealing with Perfectionism with Bess Hawthorne

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Bess is a wife, mother of 5, and grandmother of 3! She currently teaches full time at Logos School and hosts the podcast, Come Over for Dinner!, on all the ways to make hospitality practical and fun. Apart from her family, Bess’s days are lively with the bustling energy of second graders whom she teaches full-time. She jestingly remarks that she “attends second grade every day”. Her teaching journey is paired with the podcast she hosts, where she and her guests delve into the practical aspects of hospitality. From sharing favorite recipes to discussing must-have kitchen items, her podcast serves as a trove of inspiration and guidance.

Bess identifies perfectionism as a common hurdle that many women face. This paralyzing mindset, which dictates that if something can’t be executed flawlessly it shouldn’t be undertaken at all, can be stifling. Bess is no stranger to this challenge. She admits that her natural inclination is toward perfectionism, wanting things to be ‘just so’. She's a planner by nature. Through personal experience, she shares insights on how to overcome this hindrance. One of the most profound pieces of advice Bess offers is to view oneself as a character in God’s story. Citing the author N.D. Wilson, she encourages individuals to see themselves as part of a larger narrative. This perspective can be transformative.