COURSE

Unlearning Perfectionism: A Path To Self-Acceptance

Welcome to "Unlearning Perfectionism," a transformative three-lesson course designed to liberate you from the paralyzing grip of perfectionism and set you on a path toward personal and professional excellence. The course kicks off with a discussion on the value of failure, where we challenge societal stigmas against failure and draw from the wisdom of Tal Ben-Shahar and Abraham Maslow to show how setbacks are not only inevitable but also instrumental in personal growth. The second lesson, "The Pitfalls of Perfectionism" dives deep into the detrimental effects of perfectionism on various facets of life, offering a more balanced approach rooted in striving for excellence, inspired by figures like Stanley Kubrick. Our final lesson presents five actionable philosophies, drawing from the wisdom of Pablo Picasso and psychology studies, to reframe your mindset toward effort, creativity, and resilience. By the end of this course, you'll be equipped with the tools to shake off perfectionism, understand the value of failure, and forge your unique path towards a fulfilling life of excellence and self-acceptance.

Acceptance Creativity Stress Secular Mindfulness Mindfulness Happiness Health & Happiness Performance Stress & Anxiety Secular

Meet your Teacher

Jon Brooks

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Jon Brooks is a passionate teacher and practitioner of Stoicism. He uses his martial arts background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to innovate new methods to learn and master this ancient philosophical blueprint for the good life.

3 Days

1.1k students

4.9 stars

9 min / day

Acceptance

English

Lesson 1

Learn To Fail

In today's lesson, "Learn to Fail," we delve into the paralyzing effects of perfectionism across various aspects of life—from diets to personal relationships to career goals. Drawing on wisdom from experts like Sam Harris, Tal Ben-Shahar, and Abraham Maslow, we challenge societal beliefs that demonize failure and inhibit risk-taking. We'll explore how failure is not just a natural part of life, but a vital stepping stone to success, inviting you to share a personal experience where a setback led to invaluable learning. Welcome to Day 1 of your journey towards unlearning perfectionism and embracing self-acceptance.

Lesson 2

The Pitfalls Of Perfectionism

Winston Churchill once quipped, "Nothing but perfection may be spelled paralysis," and that encapsulates today's discussion. We unravel the damaging impacts of perfectionism, which seep into not just our work but also our health, relationships, and self-esteem. Taking a page from Stanley Kubrick's relentless perfectionism, which often came at great emotional and temporal costs, we propose a more sustainable alternative: striving for excellence. In a world that often confuses the pursuit of excellence with perfectionism, this lesson provides a nuanced look into why one leads to growth and the other to stagnation. Learn to discern between being "perfectly perfect" and "perfectly excellent," and understand that the path to true fulfillment lies not in flawless execution, but in embracing our humanity, vulnerabilities, and imperfections. Stay tuned for Lesson 3, where we delve into actionable techniques to shift from perfectionism to excellence.

Lesson 3

5 Thinking Tools To Unlock Excellence

This lesson uncovers five powerful philosophies to transform your approach to achievement and move you closer to embracing excellence. These mindsets cover a spectrum of principles from valuing effort over outcomes to creating your own process for success. In this lesson, you'll discover how the expectations we are raised with can become our own worst enemy, learn why Pablo Picasso said a two-minute sketch took him over 80 years to create, and explore the psychology of perseverance and resilience. By the end of this lesson, you will have the tools to liberate yourself from the confines of perfectionism and chart your unique path towards personal and professional excellence.

4.9 (129)

Recent Reviews

February 11, 2026

Contrary to what society has told us… this is the way the a more fulfilling life

Yasminka

August 7, 2025

So many tools provided to overcome perfectionism. Looking forward to overcoming the destructive way of life …. Will report back. Much Gratitude.🙏 Appreciate the quotes provided along the way.

Scarlett

July 21, 2025

Thank you, this was very engaging and helpful.

Ramona

April 19, 2025

Excellent course for perfectionists! Valuable insights on what to do to overcome those behaviors 👍🏼

Siri

December 2, 2024

I’d love to see more on this. I hope you consider making additional lessons. Thanks!

Annie

November 7, 2024

I truly appreciate your wisdom. I find your contents to always be excellent and succinct with great quotes and practical examples.

Solange

September 24, 2024

Many thanks 🙏🏾

Valerie

June 27, 2024

Thank you for these very wise words!

Amy

June 16, 2024

Great and succinct information. Thank you.

Tanya

June 12, 2024

Very interesting concepts to approach art and life!

Nada

April 28, 2024

Thank you Jon I like this course. Even though I am not perfectionists I did learn some things. 👏🍀🙏🏻

Karen

February 25, 2024

Brilliant! ✨️

Priscilla

January 15, 2024

Amazing wish it was a longer course.

Joni

December 25, 2023

This course has helped me put ficus on my ideas of perfectionism. I will look for excellence and appreciate my efforts and do the same in evaluating those around me. Thank you.

Robin

December 21, 2023

Very insightful and thought-provoking. Thank you for sharing.

Jay

November 4, 2023

I’m leting go of the desire to write a purfect coment 😜Seriously though, a great course 👍

Mary

October 31, 2023

Excellent

KatieG

October 21, 2023

I love Jon’s courses. his distillation of ideas, examples, always something new for me in what I might think is old territory at the outset. This is no exception, valuable along with being a fun listen!

Sudarshan

October 2, 2023

by Jon Brooks

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