#185 Letting Go of Perfectionism & Letting It Be Easy (feat. My Mom)#185 Letting Go of Perfectionism & Letting It Be Easy (feat. My Mom)
Happiest Sober Podcast
Madeline and her mum chat about how perfectionism ties into sobriety, routines and self‑image, and share how they’re learning to embrace “good enough.” Their conversation focuses on moving from approval seeking to self‑approval and letting life feel a little easier in recovery.
53:47•2 Jun 2026
Letting It Be Easy: Perfectionism, Sobriety and Self‑Approval with Madeline’s Mum
Episode Overview
- Perfectionism is framed as a form of approval seeking rather than a genuine desire to be perfect.
- Letting “good enough be good enough” reduces overthinking and softens all‑or‑nothing thinking in sobriety.
- Simple anchors like meditation and gratitude journalling can support recovery without turning into rigid, stressful routines.
- Trusting inner preferences and intuition, rather than external rules, helps create more ease and authenticity in daily life.
- Choosing self‑approval over others’ opinions opens up more freedom to be openly sober, imperfect and fully yourself.
“If you weren’t looking for external approval, what would be good enough?”
What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? In this chat, host Madeline Forrest teams up with her mum for a heart-to-heart on perfectionism, sobriety, and why “good enough is good enough” might be the most healing mantra you’ll hear all week.
You’ll hear Madeline’s mum explain how she never saw herself as a perfectionist until a Brené Brown quote stopped her in her tracks: perfectionism “has nothing to do with being perfect, but it has everything to do with approval.” That idea sparks a funny and honest look at her need for spotless decor, flawless dinner parties, and even “executive chef” level cooking – and how all of it was really about wanting people to think well of her.
Madeline shares her own “in recovery from perfectionism” journey, from obsessively editing her early podcast episodes to now saying, “I said what I said in the moment and I’m going to call it good enough.” She also talks about ditching extreme to-do lists and a 12‑habit streaks app, choosing instead to keep just meditation and gratitude journalling and let the rest be guided by what actually feels right that day.
The pair tie perfectionism to sobriety, all‑or‑nothing thinking, and the pressure to be the “perfect” sober person with the perfect routine. They touch on ageing, “empathy lines” (Madeline’s new name for her frown lines), and the freedom of saying, “It was a problem for me,” about her past drinking at a recent hen weekend.
Through it all, they keep circling back to one simple practice: stop chasing external approval and start saying, “I approve of myself.” If perfectionism has been clinging to your sobriety, could letting things be easier be your next big act of courage?
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