Perfectionism, Burnout, and Self-Doubt: Break the Loop with the Science of Mattering | Gordon Flett
About this episode
<p dir="ltr">Plus: combatting loneliness, turning down the volume on social comparison, and why mattering to a few people beats outperforming everyone.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.thematteringmovement.com/gordon-flett">Gordon Flett</a> is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University where he has served as the Director of the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research. Dr. Flett is most known for his influential research on perfectionism in health and mental health and his more recent work on the psychology of mattering. </p> <p dir="ltr">In this episode we talk about:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The difference between perfectionism and healthy striving</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How perfectionism functions as a coping mechanism for unmet needs for love, belonging, and significance</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">What "mattering" actually means</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Antimattering (and our fear of not mattering)</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why feeling like you matter to others can loosen the grip of perfectionism</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why people consistently underestimate how much they matter to others</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Practical ways to help others feel like they matter</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why helping others feel like they matter boomerangs back and boosts your own sense of significance</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The fear of not mattering in the age of AI</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Get the 10% with Dan Harris app <a href= "https://app.danharris.com/membership">here</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Sign up for Dan's free newsletter <a href= "http://www.danharris.com/">here</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Follow Dan on social: <a href= "https://bit.ly/3tGigG5">Instagram</a>, <a href= "https://bit.ly/3FOA84J">TikTok</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to our <a href= "https://bit.ly/3FybRzD">YouTube Channel</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Additional Resources: </p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Gordon's books: <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Mattering-Understanding-Human-Significant/dp/012809415X"> The Psychology of Mattering</a>, <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Mattering-Core-Need-Children-Adolescents/dp/1433842785/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1ifm0k6_LOxGtHhLv0yX2PjSRhksVAnwD40N3ChsbDOYaZ6MVOs5XswMbVCtan6Zc_n22pfMBAaJ1QflzwfWdXP_GUgzYZyUSUQw57eI0dsMfnhz8L1ud3unZGKLIYzGwIY7h8EyJqnDV9otNFfKDXh_vSl1ZQwFHKnO8ufG-wPvARz1YJYye98DKxakVZbEl-L0NYaegV6PRnGVg3gPI2G9V9K3LVHwrh4yOSi5TTk.O2LI-5V0yjPh_FhrvldsB-t-Hz0Gp84-AzrkLLcTZzY&dib_tag=se&qid=1782153333&refinements=p_27%3AGordon+L.+Flett&s=books&sr=1-3"> Mattering as a Core Need in Children and Adolescents</a>, and <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Perfectionism-Research-Treatment-Gordon-Flett/dp/1557988420/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1ifm0k6_LOxGtHhLv0yX2PjSRhksVAnwD40N3ChsbDOYaZ6MVOs5XswMbVCtan6Zc_n22pfMBAaJ1QflzwfWdXP_GUgzYZyUSUQw57eI0dsMfnhz8L1ud3unZGKLIYzGwIY7h8EyJqnDV9otNFfKDXh_vSl1ZQwFHKnO8ufG-wPvARz1YJYye98DKxakVZbEl-L0NYaegV6PRnGVg3gPI2G9V9K3LVHwrh4yOSi5TTk.O2LI-5V0yjPh_FhrvldsB-t-Hz0Gp84-AzrkLLcTZzY&dib_tag=se&qid=1782153333&refinements=p_27%3AGordon+L.+Flett&s=books&sr=1-4"> Perfectionism: Theory, Research, and Treatment</a></li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Join Dan, Sebene Selassie, and Jeff Warren for Meditation Party, a 3-day immersive retreat at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, October 16–18. Grab your in-person spot <a href= "https://www.eomega.org/workshops/meditation-party">here</a>, or sign up to livestream <a href= "https://www.eomega.org/workshops/meditation-party-livestream">here</a>!</p> <p dir="ltr">This episode is sponsored by:<br /> Quo – Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first six months when you go to <a href= "http://quo.com/happier">quo.com/happier</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">BetterHelp — Online therapy, matched to your needs. Get 10% off your first month at <a href= "https://www.betterhelp.com/happier">https://www.betterhelp.com/happier</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Warby Parker — Prescription glasses with virtual try-on. Buy one prescription pair and get 20% off additional prescription pairs at <a href= "https://www.warbyparker.com/happier">https://www.warbyparker.com/happier</a></p> <p dir="ltr">IQBAR: To get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, including the ultimate sampler pack, plus free shipping, text DAN to 64000.</p> <p dir="ltr">To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit <a href= "https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris">https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris</a></p>
Listen to this episode in English to learn English
Podcast episodes are one of the highest-density ways to absorb English at native pace. Perfectionism, Burnout, and Self-Doubt: Break the Loop with the Science of Mattering | Gordon Flett from 10% Happier with Dan Harris gives you natural dialogue, unscripted speech, and vocabulary that actually appears in real conversations.
In the Hinto app, every word in the transcript is tappable. Tap an unknown word, see the translation in your language instantly, and keep listening without breaking flow.
Episodes to Learn English
- Neil deGrasse Tyson On: Happiness, Seeking Friction, Getting Your Mind Blown, and Why Casinos Hate Physicists Nov 6, 2026
- That Feeling That Something's Missing, and How To Find It | Vinny Ferraro Nov 4, 2026
- When Life Falls Apart: How To Break Old Patterns, Rewrite Your Inner Scripts, and Find Purpose | Dr. Suzan Song Nov 2, 2026
- When the News Feels Like Too Much, Try This | Sharon Salzberg Oct 30, 2026
- How To Stop Fixing Yourself | Ayya Santacitta Oct 28, 2026
- How To Stay Sane, Rested, and Useful During Hard Times | Katherine May Oct 26, 2026
- Terry Bradshaw On: Clinical Depression, Crying on the Field, and the Mother He Could Never Please Oct 23, 2026
- Live Without Regrets: Buddhist Strategies for Facing Aging, Illness, and Loss | Sister Dang Nghiem Oct 21, 2026
- A Stoic Mantra For Your Sh*ttiest Moments (And Other Ancient Wisdom That Holds Up) | Jonathan Haidt Oct 19, 2026
- How To Feel Safer In A Chaotic World | Dr. Raj Panjabi Oct 16, 2026
- Adam Grant Says You're Doing Relationships Wrong Oct 14, 2026
- Stressed, Anxious, or Drained at Work? Here's How To Follow Your Energy, Take Smart Risks, and Find Work You Actually Like | Molly Graham Oct 12, 2026
- Calm Your Nervous System: Simple Daily Practices for When You're Wired, Hangry, or Too Busy to Rest | Nadia Narain & Katia Narain Phillips Oct 9, 2026
- Anxious? Rushed? Reaching for Your Phone? Four Buddhist Phrases To Bring You Back | Brother Phap Dung and Kaira Jewel Lingo Oct 7, 2026
- How To Be Sanely Productive | Oliver Burkeman Oct 5, 2026
- Surviving the News: Buddhist Strategies for Staying Sane, Engaged, and Not Completely Furious | Pascal Auclair Oct 2, 2026
- Annoying Partners, Aging Parents, Impossible Coworkers: Buddhist Advice for Conflict, Communication, and "Patience with Teeth" | devon and nico hase Sep 30, 2026
- Your 'Inner Child' Runs Your Life. Here's How To Spot It and Take Back the Wheel. | Dr. Galit Atlas Sep 28, 2026
- Your Inner Critic Won't Stop Adding Rules. Here's The Fix. | Julian Shapiro-Barnum Sep 25, 2026
- Amanda Knox On: Finding Meaning in Tragedy, Not Needing an Apology, and Refusing to Own What Other People Think Sep 23, 2026
- The Science Of Emotion Regulation: A Five-Step Plan For Not Losing Your Sh*t | Marc Brackett Sep 21, 2026
- Comedian Josh Johnson On: Handling News Cycle Anxiety, His Insane Work Ethic, and Why AI is BS Sep 18, 2026
- The Reset for Anxiety, Overthinking, and Losing Yourself in the Wrong Story | Diana Winston Sep 16, 2026
- What's Worth Living For? | Dr. Atul Gawande Sep 14, 2026
- Neal Brennan On: Talking Back to Your Inner Critic, Why Chasing Validation Doesn't Work, and His Harrowing Psychedelic Journeys Sep 11, 2026
- Top 10 Practices for Resetting Your Time, Space, Body, Inner Critic, and Social Life | Laurie Santos and Gretchen Rubin Sep 9, 2026
- The Science Of Building The Life You Want | Arthur Brooks Sep 7, 2026
- The Psychology Of Success | Guy Raz Sep 4, 2026
- When Life's Not Working, Don't Try Harder. Change Your Situation Instead. | Angela Duckworth Sep 2, 2026
- The Science of Habit Change, Why GLP-1s are Disrupting It, and How To Use It To Have Better Conversations | Charles Duhigg Aug 31, 2026