How Does Present Over Perfect Help With Anxiety?

2025-11-13 18:37:23 84

4 Answers

Isla
Isla
2025-11-15 18:57:21
Shauna Niequist's 'Present Over Perfect' hit me right in the gut when I first picked it up. It’s not just another self-help book—it feels like a long, honest conversation with a friend who gets how exhausting it is to chase perfection. The way she describes trading hustle for stillness resonated deeply with my own anxiety spirals. Her stories about saying no to overcommitment and yes to messy, ordinary moments made me realize how much of my stress came from performing rather than living.

What stuck with me was her idea of 'being' instead of 'doing.' As someone who used to equate productivity with worth, learning to sit with discomfort without filling the silence with tasks was revolutionary. The book doesn’t offer quick fixes, but it gently untangles the connection between people-pleasing and anxiety. By the last chapter, I found myself breathing easier—not because my problems vanished, but because I finally gave myself permission to exist as-is.
Hannah
Hannah
2025-11-15 21:10:49
Niequist’s writing style itself is therapeutic—lyrical but unpolished, like she’s giving you permission to be imperfect too. 'Present Over Perfect' didn’t cure my anxiety, but it helped me spot its roots in perfectionism. These days, I catch myself reaching for her book whenever I need a reminder that vulnerability beats veneer every time.
Isaac
Isaac
2025-11-16 01:36:55
The book’s strength lies in how it reframes self-worth. For years, I’d treat anxiety as something to outrun by staying busy, but Niequist’s essays on quiet and connection showed me that real peace comes from presence. Her chapter on 'the gifts of rest' particularly stuck with me—how true rest isn’t laziness but rebellion against a culture that glorifies burnout. Now when anxiety creeps in, I ask myself: am I reacting to real urgency, or just old habits of overperformance?
Zachary
Zachary
2025-11-18 21:07:25
Reading 'Present Over Perfect' felt like someone handed me a permission slip to slow down. My anxiety always flares up when I’m juggling too much, and Niequist’s raw honesty about her own breakdowns mirrored my experiences. She talks about replacing achievement-driven chaos with small, grounded rituals—lighting candles, savoring coffee—and that shift in perspective genuinely changed how I approach stressful days. It’s not about eliminating anxiety but reframing what deserves your energy.
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