“You are already enough. Even in the ways you feel like you’re falling short.” - M.J. Schwartz

Perfectionism shows up in sneaky ways in midlife. You might feel stuck, unable to start something until you know you can do it perfectly. Or you may find yourself people-pleasing, overthinking, shutting down when you feel overwhelmed, or getting frustrated that your old coping strategies no longer work. With shifting hormones, a more sensitive nervous system, and the emotional weight midlife brings, perfectionism hits harder and takes a bigger toll on your health.

Today, I’m joined by M.J. Schwartz, a specialist in perfectionism, intuitive eating, and mind-body healing. M.J. and I talk about the difference between helpful striving and harmful perfectionism, why freeze mode is so common for women in midlife, how people-pleasing drains your energy, and how perfectionism shows up in your health choices. We also explore why anger becomes more accessible in this season of life and how intuitive eating can help you reconnect with your body’s cues.

By the end of this episode, you’ll understand why perfectionism intensifies during perimenopause and have the practical tools to move through midlife feeling steadier, more compassionate with yourself, and much less overwhelmed.

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Your Takeaways

How perfectionism hides behind people-pleasing, procrastination, and overwhelm

Why “My life is a mess” is actually perfectionism undercover

How midlife hormones amplify perfectionist stress and emotional sensitivity

The link between rigid thinking, freeze responses, and stalled health goals

How intuitive eating and mindfulness help you soften perfectionist patterns

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Episode Resources

Website: https://studio138healingcenter.com

M.J. Schwarz's Free Workshop: Perfectionism, People Pleasing, and Perimenopause on January 8 at 3pm EST. Register here: https://www.studio138healingcenter.com/classes-and-workshops

Check out the full show notes at https://leslieduffycoaching.com/18

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Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube @TheHormoneShiftShow (https://www.youtube.com/@TheHormoneShiftShow)

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