Ellen Hendriksen, author of "How to Be Enough," shares insights on how to stop overthinking, overcome self-criticism, and feel good without needing to be perfect.

Clinical psychologist Ellen Hendrickson, author of 'How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists,' explains that perfectionism is less about striving for flawlessness and more about never feeling good enough. She notes that many people with perfectionist tendencies do not identify as such, but instead report feelings of failure or inadequacy despite external achievements.

Hendrickson highlights how societal pressures, such as work culture, social media, and childhood expectations, can exacerbate perfectionism. She recommends counteracting these tendencies by practicing vulnerability, seeking help, and fostering trust and equality in relationships. Hendrickson also emphasizes the importance of shifting from self-criticism to self-compassion and viewing mistakes as part of the human experience.

Why perfectionism might be holding you back

Who doesn't like perfection? Well, some people, I guess, but many of us chase it. But when does that push become too much? Psychologist Ellen Hendrickson digs into this in her book, How to Be Enough, Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists. Ellen, good morning. Welcome. So I always thought of perfectionists as someone that did everything perfectly. I do not think I'm a perfectionist, even though I feel like, Vlad, you disagree. No, I don't think you're a perfectionist. I think you're a high achiever. But you define a perfectionist as what? Someone who everyone else thinks is doing great, but. Yeah, no, I think it's really interesting because as a clinical psychologist at an anxiety specialty clinic, nobody ever comes in and says, Ellen, I'm a perfectionist. I need help with perfectionism. But I would say that the majority of my clients have perfectionism at the heart of their challenges, but they come in and say things like, I feel like I'm failing. I feel like I'm falling behind. I'm not reaching my potential. And I think that's because the term perfectionism is actually a little bit of a misnomer. It's not really about striving to be perfect. It's about never feeling good enough. I think that's really interesting. You say that perfectionism has actually gotten worse, though, over the last couple of years, in that, what, we as a society, and I guess it's different, perhaps, by country or demographic, but I feel like in this country, we are all about becoming number one, achieving great success. You've got to be better than the next person next to you. If you don't, then you are not hitting the mark. Yeah, absolutely. I think it's really common, and has become more common in recent years, to feel like we should be more, be better. And every human reacts to the situation they're put in. So when we're put in a culture that is results-oriented, optimization-focused, review-driven, it makes sense that we would respond by feeling like we have to perform and achieve and consume to ever higher levels just to be sufficient as a person. And then to take it a step further on Vlad's point, you talk about social media, work culture, childhood expectations. Even how you look. Even how you look, what we watch on TV, and what we choose in media to highlight and promote. How are these things contributing to the overall idea that I'm not good enough? Yeah, I think there's a really interesting fundamental disconnect, because we, as individuals, evaluate ourselves based on our performance. Did I reach the goal? Did I get the result? Whereas other people evaluate us based on how they feel when they're with us. So, for example, think about why your friends are your friends. So, do you like them because of their performance? Do you like them because they have great taste in restaurants, or they speak three languages, or they're killer on the basketball court? That might be a little part of why you like them, but probably you're friends with your friends because you feel supported, understood, like you can be yourself, and like you don't have to perform at all. We also, sorry, go ahead, Adrienne. No, I was wondering, like, if any of us, or people at home feel like whatever they're doing is not enough, what is your answer? What's the antidote to that? Yeah, so folks with perfectionism will often do something called perfectionistic self-presentation, which is when we show what's going well, and we hide what's going poorly. We don't ask for advice. We don't ask for help. And so what we can do to counteract that sense of being a little bit superhuman, or unrelatable, or having some distance is to be a little bit vulnerable, and to ask for help, to show a little bit of the problems under the rug, because that sends two messages. It says, I trust you. I trust you to see under the rug and not to judge or criticize me. And it says, we are the same. This is not a mentor-mentee relationship. This isn't a coach-player relationship, that we are equal. And those two things, trust and equality, are the fundamentals of any healthy relationship. Yeah, there's seven shifts. There's a couple that I want to note. Self-criticism and self-compassion, then also shame and regret to mistakes as human experiences. I mean, this book is really good. It's powerful. So make sure you go get it if you have an opportunity. It's so good. And you start out with Fred Rogers and Walt Disney stories that people should definitely take a look at when they get the book. I want to say, I was sitting on the subway reading this, and this woman stopped and said, Hey, you are enough. Before I got off the train. It was amazing. Ellen Hendrickson, thank you so much. How to Be Enough is on sale now.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Kyiv and Moscow will both have to cede land to end the war in Ukraine and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week will instantly show whether the Kremlin leader is willing to make a deal.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Trump says both sides in Ukraine war will need to cede territory

A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, who had previously been threatened by Israel, was killed along with four colleagues and another journalist in an Israeli airstrike in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

At last one person is dead, dozens are injured and two people are unaccounted for after an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton plant in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Clairton

At least 1 dead, dozens injured in U.S. Steel plant explosion

President Donald Trump has placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and announced he's activating the National Guard to combat crime in Washington, D.C.

Trump deploying National Guard to Washington, D.C.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair.

Alaska

Trump and Putin set to meet on Friday without Zelenskyy

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Kyiv and its allies fear being sidelined and worry any deal could reward Moscow’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.

Kyiv

Ukraine fights for a seat at the table ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending his decision to keep fighting in Gaza, despite protests at home and abroad. Debora Patta has the latest.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu defends plan to expand war in Gaza

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair. Willie James Inman has more from the White House.

Anchorage

Countdown begins to Trump-Putin meeting, without Zelenskyy

Violent weather hit several Midwest states over the weekend, with high winds being blamed for the death of at least one person in Nebraska and flash flooding prompting a state of emergency in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee inundated with floodwaters, one dead in Nebraska

Thirty-seven major wildfires are currently burning across nine states in the western United States. Firefighters have made significant progress on the Canyon Fire in California, achieving 62% containment and allowing over 4,000 residents to return home, with minimal property loss reported.

Major fires continue to burn across western U.S.

President Donald Trump's envoy met with the Qatari prime minister on Saturday in Spain to discuss possible deals to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, as Israel's military plans to expand into Gaza City. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages and Palestinians alike are pleading for peace.

Families of Israeli hostages, Palestinians plead for ceasefire

Renewed anti-government protests have taken place in Israel, where relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas demanded their release and an end to the brutal war Israel has been waging in Gaza.

Israeli anti-government protesters take to the streets in Tel Aviv

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Kyiv "values and fully supports" a joint statement by European leaders that welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to try to end the war, while emphasizing the need to pressure Russia and provide security guarantees for Kyiv.

Europe stresses need to protect Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin meet

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has firmly rejected Russia’s proposal requiring land concessions to end the war. Ukrainian and European officials have submitted a counterproposal to Washington.

Ukraine, Europe counter Russian ceasefire proposal ahead of US talks

There have been more protests, and counter protests, in several British towns and cities, outside of hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers. Some far-right protesters called for one of the hotels to stop housing migrants.

Bournemouth

UK: Anti-immigration & anti-racism protesters face off

A man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, firing into the complex from a pharmacy and killing a police officer, blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, according to reports.

Atlanta

Vaccine conspiracy could be behind Atlanta shooting

The Gifford Fire burning through the rugged backcountry of California's Central Coast is now the state's largest wildfire of the year. It has reached so-called "mega-fire" status and is one of 38 large fires burning across nine states.

San Luis Obispo

Largest California wildfire of 2025 reaches "mega fire" status

President Trump is preparing to take another swing at a deal with President Putin during a high-stakes summit next Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the country will never give up land, even if it means an end to the war.

Trump: Ukraine must cede land for ceasefire; Zelenskyy refuses

The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a rare Sunday meeting to discuss Israel's plan to intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking control of Gaza City. CBS News' Debora Patta reports on the conflict and the mounting humanitarian crisis.

Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza comes under fire

At least 200 protesters have been arrested at a rally showing solidarity for Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Parliament in London. Crowds are also demonstrating against a ban on the Palestine Action group, after it was designated as a terrorist organisation.

London

London:  Hundreds arrested during Palestine action protest

After almost four decades of a bloody conflict that until recently had no end in sight, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a peace agreement in the presence of the US President Donald Trump. Notably absent in this historic moment is Russia, which no longer plays a central role in the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan and Armenia sign historic agreement

Montana's governor said that the dayslong manhunt for the suspect in a bar shooting has ended. 45-year-old Michael Brown was taken into custody on Friday.

Anaconda

Montana bar shooting suspect captured after weeklong manhunt

President Trump announced Friday that he will hold a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska. The summit comes as Russia has been pushing to keep all the Ukrainian territory it gained from its invasion. Nancy Cordes and Margaret Brennan have the latest.

Trump, Putin to hold meeting in Alaska next week

The U.S. Department of Justice issued subpoenas in its investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. CBS News' Jake Rosen reports.

New York

Trump's DOJ subpoenas New York AG Letitia James

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet in the coming days, the Kremlin said on Thursday (August 7), as the U.S. president seeks a breakthrough to end the Ukraine war after voicing mounting frustration with his Russian counterpart and threatening him with new sanctions.

Moscow

Kremlin says Trump, Putin to meet soon; Ukraine seeks role for Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump's rushed deadline for Russia to strike a ceasefire deal or face more sanctions has arrived without much movement from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump deadline for Russia to reach ceasefire arrives

Protesters in Israel are voicing their concerns about a plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet to take over Gaza City. CBS News' Debora Patta has more.

Israel's security cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel intends to take full military control of Gaza and push a new offensive, despite mounting international criticism over the war’s human toll and growing hunger crisis.

Breakdown