#163 - Dr. Gordon Flett - Being an Adaptable Perfectionist

Jun 20, 2023

Dr. Gordon Flett, a psychologist known for research on personality and depression, discusses the concept of perfectionism among athletes. They explore topics such as perfectionism assessment, development, the role of mindfulness, and the importance of adaptability over perfection. They also discuss resilience, overcoming perfectionism, and its prevalence among young people.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Understanding Perfectionism

02:15 • 20min

Mindfulness and Perfectionism

22:39 • 7min

The Magnification of Perfectionism and Its Impact on Mental Health

29:51 • 4min

Exploring the Pressure of Perfectionism in Sports

34:10 • 4min

Adaptability and Perfectionism: Finding the Right Balance

38:39 • 16min

Building Resilience in Imperfect Environments

55:06 • 4min

Addressing Perfectionistic Concerns

59:04 • 17min

Gordon L. Flett, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Flett is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, which has cited him as one of the top 25 most productive authors in psychology. He is best known for his research on personality and depression, as well as groundbreaking work on perfectionism. In this episode, expect to learn ways athletes can become adaptable perfectionists. Lewis and Gordon focus on perfectionism among athletes and explore questions such as: How is perfectionism assessed and conceptualized? How does perfectionism develop? What is the role of mindfulness in overcoming perfectionism? Why do the best athletes focus on adaptability and not perfection? [00:00] Introduction [03:49] Perfectionism Versus Striving For Excellence [07:42] Self-Care Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury [10:58] How Does One Become a Perfectionist? [15:16] The Internal Dialogue of a Perfectionist [17:28] Perfectionism From a Motivational Perspective [20:23] Self-Awareness and Mindfulness [24:20] What is Perfectionistic Reactivity? [27:26] Perfectionism in Adolescents [33:10] Understanding Rigid Perfectionism [36:12] Adaptability and Perfectionism [42:55] The Best Athletes are Adaptable [49:57] Adaptability Versus Perfectionism [52:42] The Best Way to Build Resilience as an Athlete [56:40] How to Overcome Perfectionism [01:00:42] Perfectionism Among Young People [01:02:52] How to Achieve Excellence Without Being Perfect [01:08:16] Where to Find Gordon [01:10:20] Gordon's Go-To Resource Recommendations Links and Resources: Gordon's Email address: gflett@yorku.ca Gordon on Twitter: twitter.com/FlettGordon Perfectionism: A Relational Approach to Conceptualization, Assessment, and Treatment by Paul L. Hewitt, Gordon L. Flett, and Samuel F. Mikail Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi Tomorrow I'll Be Perfect by Dave Stieb Get my Free Friday email 'The Game Plan': ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lewishatchett.com/the-game-plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Lewis at: TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lewis_hatchett⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lewishatchett⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠For more on the podcast visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.lewishatchett.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@lewishatchett.com