The Perfectionism Project

When you have a perfectionist mindset, the temptation is always to only do things you’ll be good at or pursue opportunities that might succeed (so that you don’t waste effort). While that may sound logical, it’s a very limiting way to live life and will only end in dissatisfaction. In this episode,  I’m sharing how you can use creativity to get yourself into a growth mindset (i.e. a mindset that will have you achieving more). Even if you don’t view yourself as a creative person, I recommend tuning in! In This Episode You’ll Learn: How to use daily creativity to get yourself into a growth mindset The things I personally do just for the sake of creativity 3 benefits of daily creativity (beyond what you’d typically think) Why you should do something for yourself before you do something for your boss How to begin a daily creativity practice What I’ve learned so far from writing every day in 2019 Featured In The Episode: Mindset by Dr Carol Dweck The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes Episode 79: The Final Update On My 2018 Impossible Goal + My Goals For 2019

Creating new habits can be challenging, but it doesn’t always have to be that with! And the best news is that the answer isn’t trying harder - you just need to change the way you’re thinking about it.   In this episode, I’m sharing the mindset trick I’ve used to pull myself out of habits that have eluded me for years. The simple strategy I share will have you creating success habits with ease. I’m so grateful to be able to share it with you! In This Episode You’ll Learn: The power of personal rules / creating a minimum baseline How to create a personal rule for yourself Why personal rules are more effective than willpower The personal rules I have in my life that keep me organised and make me successful When to use a personal rule and how to choose one to get started with Featured In The Episode: Episode 26: The Power of Self-Image Episode 96: 5 Simple Ways To Feel Better Tom Bilyeu talking about bright lines

If you’ve been telling yourself that happiness will meet you further down the road (when you get X or achieve Y or marry Z), it will always be further down the road - no matter what your circumstances are. If you’re not grateful for what you have, you won’t be grateful for what you get. So in this episode, I’m sharing 5 simple gratitude practices that you can experiment with. Some of these I’ve learned from others and some I’ve improvised myself. Regardless, I’m sure you’ll find one that resonates with you!   In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why practicing gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to feel better The simple gratitude practice I’ve been using everyday for 4+ years Uncommon ways to increase gratitude How your gratitude practice can deepen your relationships, even if the other person doesn’t reciprocate A powerful gratitude practice you can use when you’re feeling overwhelmed How I turn a stressful week around Featured In The Episode: The Five Minute Journal Esther Hicks / Abraham Hicks My blog post from 2014 about the gratitude practice I still use every day Episode 84: How To Escape The Self-Pity Cycle Podcast Episode: Failing on Purpose + Gratitude-Fueled Ambition

Waking up early is a powerful routine, but not for the reason you might think! Honouring a commitment to yourself is such an incredible way to start the day - regardless of whether that commitment is to wake up on your alarm at 5 am or 11 am!   Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of advice on how to wake up early. But in my opinion, most of that advice fails to mention the mindset advice that matters! In this episode, I’m sharing how I get myself to consistently wake up early, even though I rarely feel like it. I hope you find it helpful.   In This Episode You’ll Learn: What being a morning person really means How to wake up early when you don’t feel like it The true point of waking up early (it’s not what you’d think) What ‘responsible alarm setting’ is and how to get started Why you find it easy to wake up early on some days but not on others How to create real motivation to wake up early Practical tips that you can start experimenting with today Featured In The Episode: Dream Habit: My habit course for perfectionists My Youtube channel Episode 26: The Power of Self-Image Episode 37: 10 Simple Ways To Optimise Your Morning Routine

I’ve definitely been guilty of procrasti-learning - that thing we do when we want to feel productive but don’t want to risk the disappointment that might come if we actually get started. Researching and over-analysing are two things perfectionists are more than familiar with, so I thought I’d dedicate a podcast episode to them. And here we are!   In This Episode You’ll Learn: Whether you’re suffering from the curse of knowledge When to get out of passive action and get into massive action The balance between learning enough and learning too much How to tell when you’re procrasti-learning What a low information diet is and how to experiment with it Why I haven’t watched the news in years   Featured In The Episode: Episode 39: The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss: Lessons + Takeaways Episode 81: How To Make The Most of Self-Help Books Manifestation Babe Podcast The Life Coach School Podcast

In school, we’re praised for being full of potential. But in the real world, potential doesn’t matter - it’s what you do that counts. In this episode, I’m shining a light on a seemingly positive belief that is holding SO many perfectionists back - and what to do about it! If you see yourself as someone who’s full of potential but you’re scared to attempt anything that might fail, this episode is for you. If you’d like to take your personal development journey to the next level, I invite you to join me in my course Get Out Of Your Own Way. It’s only open for enrollment this week so make sure you join if you want me to teach you how stop procrastinating, overcome your fears and become your best self. You can find out more at samlaurabrown.com/course. Registration is closing strictly at midnight (EST) on Sunday, 10 March 2019. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why believing you have potential is causing you to self-sabotage What to believe instead Practical goal setting advice that will reduce your fear of disappointment Why your conscious desire to improve yourself is not enough to create change How to tell whether you’re procrasti-learning The role of identity and how to create an identity that aligns with your goals Featured In The Episode: Get Out Of Your Own Way - Find out more and join here! Tom Bilyeu

In this episode, I’m sharing a behind the scenes look at my personal development journey (and business) to inspire you to work on yourself every day. For me, February was a really powerful month in so many ways. Tune in to hear some of the most important things I learned as I set about my February goals. It wasn’t already easy! If you’d like to take your personal development journey to the next level, I invite you to join me in my course Get Out Of Your Own Way. It’s only open for enrollment this week so make sure you join if you want me to teach you how to stop procrastinating, overcome your fears and become your best self. You can find out more at samlaurabrown.com/course. In This Episode You’ll Learn: What to do when you fail at reaching a goal When to change a goal and when to persist What I’m learning from my goal to read 4 books every month The 4 books I’m reading this month and whether I’d recommend them Why I don’t finish every book I read The constructive feedback I got this month about being interviewed on podcasts How I approach feedback so that I can remain true to myself whilst growing and evolving The power of coaching and what I talk about with my coach Why I love getting older Featured In The Episode: Get Out Of Your Own Way - Find out more and join here! Erin May Henry Episode 31: How To Read More Books Episode 81: How To Make The Most of Self-Help Books Episode 91: How To *Actually* Believe In Yourself Episode 79: The Final Update On My 2018 Impossible Goal + My Goals For 2019 Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes Incognito by David Eagleman Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

A student in one of my classes asked me how to tell when you truly believe a new thought. I thought it was such a great question that I wanted to dedicate a podcast episode to answering it! In this episode, I’m sharing how to tell whether you believe in yourself or not and practical things you can do to increase your self-belief (which will help move you into action). If you want my help to stop procrastination, overcome your fears and become your best self then make sure you sign up for my FREE 5-day perfectionism challenge - it’s not too late! Click here to register. In This Episode You’ll Learn: How it is that you can believe in yourself and NOT believe in yourself at the same time The real reason you’re scared of what other people think Practical ways to use neuroscience and your brain to your advantage Why it’s important to create a new belief before you can see the evidence to support it A simple thing you can do to make it easier to believe in yourself What cognitive dissonance is and how to get past it Featured In The Episode: Free 5-Day Perfectionism Challenge starting 25 February 2019 - Register Here Tom Bilyeu’s Youtube channel Tom Bilyeu compilation of his Top 50 Rules of Success Evan Carmichael’s Youtube channel (love his Top 10 Rules of Success series) Mindset by Carol Dweck Episode 52: The 3 Stages of Personal Growth Episode 41: My Fitness Journey + How I Created A Growth Mindset

Perfectionists LOVE feeling productive. And that’s because we believe that if we do more, we’ll be more. On my own personal development journey, I’ve had to untangle my worthiness from my productivity levels and learn how to get more done with ease. And in this episode, I’m sharing the practical things I’m currently doing to skyrocket my productivity levels. If you want to learn how to feel more accomplished, get more done and have more time for the things that truly matter - this episode is for you. If you want my help to stop procrastination, overcome your fears and become your best self then make sure you sign up for my FREE 5-day perfectionism challenge that starts on Monday, 25 February 2019. Click here to register. In This Episode You’ll Learn: How to be more productive in less time The real reason that distractions stop you from doing deep work A tip to help you determine the most important tasks on your to-do list Why I’ve completely changed the way I structure my work day How to create a schedule that truly works for you Why I’m constantly experimenting with productivity The importance of detaching your self-worth from what you produce How to feel accomplished after every single day of work, no matter how many tasks remain on your to-do list Featured In The Episode: Free 5-Day Perfectionism Challenge starting 25 February 2019 - Register Here Dr Shannon Irvine The Mindful Strategist Journal

Goal-setting is a powerful personal development tool. It’s what allows you to put your hands back on the steering wheel of life and direct it to where you want to go. If you don’t take that big, inspiring goal and break it down into achievable daily steps, it’s so hard to get anywhere! So in this episode, I’m sharing the simple 7-step process that will help you take your dream and turn it into a reality. I hope you enjoy it! If you want my help to stop procrastination, overcome your fears and become your best self then make sure you sign up for my FREE 5-day perfectionism challenge that starts on Monday, 25 February 2019. Click here to register. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why it’s important to consider your ideal day before setting a goal Whether it’s important that your goal is realistic A journaling exercise that’ll help you be more creative and productive How to change your beliefs about who you are so your goal is easier to achieve The planning tactic I use to get more done each day and achieve my goals How to stop disappointment from not reaching a goal Featured In The Episode: Free 5-Day Perfectionism Challenge starting 25 February 2019 - Register Here Episode 26: The Power of Self-Image Episode 82: Your Ideal Day + How To Live It Now Episode 79: The Final Update On My 2018 Impossible Goal + My 2019 Goals