How to Strive for Excellence (and Still Be Human!) || with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife and Carolyn Bever

Stop beating yourself up for what we all are, which is, flawed and worthy.

Licensed marriage and sex therapist, Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife is well known to this community. Today she is joined by her sister, Carolyn Bever who is an acclaimed violinist. Through their respective careers they have both seen how a lot of people become overwhelmed at the prospect of getting from where they are, to where they can go, because of perfectionism. Together they teach the importance of knowing your strengths, your own capacity, and how strive for excellence in a way that works for you.

Tune in to hear how Carolyn went from musician to marathoner, by taking it literally one block at a time. As well as, a "bad Jennifer story" where she shares an insecurity that may resonate with many listeners. Ultimately remember that the struggle with perfectionism is a very human struggle and how to move the needle anyway.

About a few other things...

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Songs Credit: DRIVE by Dj Nicolai Heidlas @nicolai-heidlas Music provided by FREE MUSIC FOR VLOGS AND VIDEOS bit.ly/freemusicforvlogs

Transcript

Monica: [00:00:00] Welcome to the show. Carolyn and Jennifer.

I've never had sister, sister on the show before, and it's an honor to have this sister pairing here. So we've introduced you already, but you know, Jennifer way back when we did, you were doing me a big favor. When I think I was maybe 10 episodes in, and we did an episode on perfectionism that we didn't intend to be so well received, but for a little tiny podcast, it sure hit the chord for a lot of people. And there was something that you mentioned there, and it connects to Carolyn being here today. You mentioned in that episode, how your daughter is a musician and that as a musician, she could not improve while she was standing within this perfectionistic  position.

So that's what we're here to talk about today because you are both, achievers and you both help women and children be achievers too. And to strive for excellence, to reach for more in their lives. But you also do this from this place of allowing them to also, well, not even allowing them, they have to allow this ability to be human;  which is so complicated.

That's why I'm so eager to have both of you on. So as teachers and parents, let's do the reverse of this: how have you seen perfectionism proved to be destructive in the growth of your students or your clients or your children? And why do you think that is? And actually let's start with Carolyn on this one. Since you primarily work with children and children musicians. 

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:01:24] I think I remember that podcast very well. And I remember Jennifer talking about that and of course it struck a chord because, you know,  artistic expression is subjective and, you know, musical phrases can't be played perfectly. And thank goodness, you know, we, we want to bring ourselves and our own creativity to a written piece of music . So while we can really strive for precision and being better every time we play with whatever goal we set for ourselves, there is  a wonderful metaphor for the rest of life. 

Monica: [00:02:01] I was a musician, but not like you or, or not like the kids you work with, but the little bit of work that I did in the Suzuku method, it was hard for me because I was the perfectionist, like, "Give me the notes, tell me how to play. Don't have me make up music or try to create a song based off of something you just hummedfor me. So that is, I think interesting. Yeah. Tell us more, 

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:02:26] The other great thing about my job is that I really see somebody from the age three and they don't leave until they're 18. So I just get to know every little facet of their personality and so I see this wonderful tapestry of personality types and strengths, and I always see from a young age, what type of learner they are.  And it's really fun for me to be able to push the weak spots. Kind of like Jennifer, you know, my job is to see the bigger picture and then know that it's in their best interest for me to really push the parts where they're weakest.

And then that way I can be their friend in supporting that and understanding that it's a good thing to push our weak spots; it's not a bad thing. You know, it's my job. I would be a horrible teacher if I said "You were great, I'll see you next week. "You know, my job is to say, "What can we do with this thing?"

Monica: [00:03:21]  There needs to be an awareness of weakness. And that's what I think, Jennifer, you and I talked about in that first episode, the perfectionists like to avoid seeing the weakness or to only hyper-dwell on it.  There's this balance of that.

 How have you seen perfectionism show up even with your children or your clients and how it's destructive to their growth and their achievement? . 

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: [00:03:43] Well maybe I'll start this with my clients. I think that. You know, when people are coming in to talk to me or I'm teaching a class, I just finished teaching an online course, and I'm giving people sort of both an awareness of what they're not doing right.

Or what they're doing that's getting in their way, as well as a vision of where they can go. And for a lot of people, it can be overwhelming because of that very human perfectionistic demand; like "I should be here. I'm here, but I should be there." And that can be really overwhelming of an  experience because so much of living life well is tolerating our fundamental, flawed, limited nature. And not letting that disorient us so much, that we're not able to deal with the present and to move forward in the present. I'm often helping people with in these conversations is both to see what is real, both in where they may be limited, but also where their strengths are.

Sometimes when people are feeling overwhelmed, I take them back to all the things they've already mastered and overcome despite the odds, despite the pressures on them. So they understand and see their capacity. But it's also about, in some sense, helping them point in a direction, which is like, "Hey, this is where I want to get in my relationship. This is where I want to get in my relationship with myself."  But then dealing with the present, dealing with today.  Dealing with what, you know, in the New Testament, Christ talks about this idea of take no thought for the Morrow, right, in  the Sermon on the Mount. And some people are like, "Wow, that seems so irresponsible. Like you want to make sure you can pay the rent."

Right?You know, and I don't, and I don't think it's like, obviously be irresponsible, but it's like once you know what direction you're pointing and then deal with the evil in today; that is deal with yourself today because it's the only piece you have control over. The only part that you can actually do anything about is who you are now, and the more you're focused on the future or the past, the more you give that strength away. So I see that with my clients, for sure. And then, you know, with my own parenting, I've had to see in myself more of my own perfectionism and how I've pushed that onto my kids. You know, seeing as they get older, some of those exposures of myself through them and how this perfectionism is so linked to self-rejection and self worth and how we can play that out in our relationships in ways that aren't helpful.  But the antidote for my kids has been very much about a deeper acceptance of my own humanity and a deeper acceptance of theirs is the freeing source. 

Monica: [00:06:43] Hmm. And when people first hear that, and I know that I was this way when I first heard that, I thought, "Well, that just means you just give yourself permission to be a terrible human or to not work on yourself." And the opposite, because I've learned from you,  really is  true. And I'd like to know how do you both see that playing out? How does this shift to leaning into the process, the present, you know, even from learning notes and, you know, scales,  () I know I'm probably botching all of how you train people,) but leaning into the process more than the outcome, how does that somehow enable you to have a higher outcome, a more fulfilling outcome? 

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:07:22] I think one of the things that Jennifer was saying that is very relatable in a music realm is again with Suzuki, we go back and we review. And I think that reminding of ourselves and our kids of how the process really does work, even if it seems like it's a new challenge, but the day to day steps of trying our very best with whatever happens and being creative about solutions and honoring what we have done. So when we go back and we've reviewed music that we have played and mastered, and, you know, remember when twinkles were really hard and now they're not hard anymore. And so kind of using that , of course I can't maybe run a marathon tomorrow would be silly to go out and try to run 26 miles, but you know, what are the goals that I can do right now that will get me to where I want to be.  I never really was an athlete, ever. I was always like the class musician and I married this awesome person who loved mountain biking. And so I really wanted to be that, but I just thought that it's just not me. And I remember thinking, well, what if I just try to run a block?

And I literally ran a block and then the next day I read like two blocks and then I ran-walk and it was just all of a sudden shifting the paradigm with " what am I?"  I mean it's so silly, but it was like figuring out I really liked running. Am I the fastest runner?

Well, no; but I really love it. And then I actually really did start to become fast because I decided to do it. And then I qualified for Boston.  Then I became this marathoner , but it really started with walking a block. 

Monica: [00:09:08] And leaning into the process!  

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:09:10] And leaning into the process, just being okay with wonderfully talented people all around me and that didn't take away from all that I was and all that I wasn't. Just really loving the talent that you see around you. I think that's one of the things as a musician, I am surrounded by talent, and just extraordinary talent. I think, you know, when you think about what it takes to become a professional musician and the hours and it's like a perfect storm. It really is an Olympic athlete. Right? You have to have gifts and talents, but you have to just dedicate so much of your life and your time to it.  If I was always comparing myself, it just wouldn't be work.  If I can just really love my colleagues and be blessed with the way that their talent blesses my life. And see that as a true gift to what they give everyone, we're all so much better for it. 

Monica: [00:10:12] There's that identity piece to it again that you brought up, you know, just you, because you are allowed to lean into a process, you are allowed to shift in how you viewed yourself and what your capacities could be, which meant that you got to a place that you didn't imagine you'd be able to do in the beginning.

I love that. And Jennifer, for you, you talked about this with, with parenting and I would actually love to know a bad Jennifer story. I would love to know a time where you didn't do it right, because that will, and I'm sure all my listeners will be like, yes, she's human. Please tell us. 

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: [00:10:44] Okay, well, this is a good one.  I talked to my son this morning and just said, would you mind if I tell this story? And he said, no, that's fine. So, so my, my second child is, is is it just a really gifted child. He said, "make sure you emphasize . . ."

He was a little guy. So let me give a little more context. First is I grew up in a, in a wonderful family of eight in which, you know, my father was a professor, but my father had his own insecurities about his intelligence. He grew up in a family of high achievers, and I think he felt like by comparison, he hadn't done as well, or wasn't as capable.

I don't even know if that's true, but I think he carried that sense about himself. And so I think in a lot of ways, the way that he related to us was in a little bit of a sense that like him, we weren't very capable. I mean, I think that's just sort of the feeling I had from my father on a lot of things.

At least academically. And maybe in part, because I was female . I'm making my dad sound like a horrible person. He was not, but he wasn't, he was a product exactly as human. He was a product of his generation and, and, you know, the goal in life for me was to get married and not necessarily to be academically oriented.

In some ways I don't know that I was a gifted student. I really did work hard academically. I think I had capacities and intelligence that were there, but didn't necessarily show up readily in the academic realm.

So, so I had to work harder than some of my peers to demonstrate that. But, but my bigger point is I think I had in me a kind of insecurity that I wasn't really an equal with very talented, intellectually talented and gifted people. And whether or not that's a fair self-assessment, it was a real feeling.

And then I married into a family of all Ivy league educated people. And I just felt sometimes crushingly insecure. I mean, I feel some compassion for my younger self around that, but I genuinely did. I would feel like, :I don't even know how to be involved in his family conversation because they're talking about things I don't know about."

And so when my son was born and he was so clearly gifted, he was sort of like going to be redeem me. And this is so unfair to do to a little guy, but that was on some level, he was a way of sort of making me okay. Now, that's obviously not his job and I never articulated this to myself because that would have been too abhorrent to admit that to myself, that this was what I was the job I was placing on him.

But on some level I was. And I would talk to him about how gifted and capable he was. And I would talk to him about how talented he was. And he was, you know, he, he would sort of blow us away sometimes . But the problem with it was,  it was giving him this expectation, a perfectionistic demand about what he was supposed to be, what he was supposed to evidence through every effort that he made.

And, and so it's that fixed mindset that, you know, versus a growth mindset that I was producing. Single-handedly I am ashamed to say. And so I think she got into higher levels of academic demand, his motivation started going down because he says , "I felt like if I couldn't definitively produce the A, if it was starting to now really challenge me and I couldn't demonstrate that I was what I'm supposed to be, then it was deeply de-motivating because it was going to be an exposure."  I would try to counter it then in those moments and just say, just write anything, just like produce, you know, Vomit onto the page and then you can deal with what's there.

Right? Don't worry about it. But there was this underlying, he said that wasn't a helpful idea because then it was an admission of failure. It was an admission that I'm not what I'm supposed to be. And so I don't want to do it in perfectly because then I have to deal with the view of myself that I'm not prepared to deal with in me.

And so, for me to start waking up to the fact that I was a part of this.  I think I was starting to confront this a lot more, maybe seven years ago that this was going on and I was changing it, but he still internalized a lot of it all.

And so, you know, I would say to them, I don't care what you do, where you go to school, all that I can live with any of it just, just striving in a way that's meaningful for you. But he said, the reason why he couldn't take that in, as he had his own confrontation with perfectionism, that he had to deal with it himself now and who he was really going to be.

But the thing that he said that has been the most helpful for him in moving forward in his life. Is in some ways to not think about the future, to not think about some perfectionistic ideal. And he said, this might not be true for some people, some people have a hard time mobilizing themselves. They may need to think about the future ideal to get them to deal with today.

But he said he needed to let go of that and just deal with his responsibilities in the given day. And when he realizes when I deal with my responsibilities right now, That's when I feel my happiest. It's the happiness in today. Not that when I get here, then I'll be happy. Then I'll prove I'm the right kind of person.

That's deeply de-motivating. But when it's like, I realize when I do what I need to do today, I feel good. And he said, you know, I'd much rather get a B plus in a class that I've worked my hardest on because I know that I've come to understand the material. And I know that I gave it my best and I feel happy.

Rather than I was able to, or smart enough to map what the teacher wanted and put the right answers on the exam, because I knew what it was, but I hadn't really mastered the material. It's not as gratifying.  That's important for him thinking in some sense about what makes me happy today is the thing I need to deal with.

Not some fantasy of , when I arrive will make me happy. And so. I can keep talking. I have, I think for me to be a good parent, I had to really confront my own perfectionism and my own need to let that go to be able to really be a meaningful resource for him in that, in his own life. . 

Monica: [00:17:23] So much of what I've learned from you over the years and all just also just my own work in this area I've had to work really intensely in, is realizing that perfectionism really is just a misplacement of identity. And that really is placing on the outcome, like we talked about. And with both of your examples, I can see that we're released to do more when we're not focusing so much on what the outcome will be.

And instead when we're focusing on the daily small actions. And even performing Carolyn, I'm sure if you are sitting up on stage and you are only thinking about. How was this going to end? What kind of review could be get, what will the audience say? Then it destructs the process, right? 

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:18:03] It literally kills creativity.

Right? So there's no way for me to actually be in the moment if I'm always again, worried about external validation, how can I bring my heart into the piece?

The wonderful thing about music is we get to really stream ourselves and stream our own creativity. So it's wow. It's a great way to show that.  

Monica: [00:18:28] And our own uniqueness, which means you can't be perfect. So I want to move this to women who this is a whole new concept for them.

Maybe they actually see Jennifer that you're like your son when their motivation is way low, because they've been for so long trying  have this impossible task of doing things perfectly right away, and then not doing that. And so their motivation is low, but they know it's time for more, they're ready to strive for greater things in their lives.

So how can they lean more into the process? How can they, you know, reach for excellence while also accepting themselves? Carolyn, do you have any tips for them to start with? 

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:19:03] Well, again, I think you have to trust the process and you have to really, I think trust the goals and your passions.

 Jennifer's kind of brought up a couple of things in different podcasts But one thing that was, you know, fun is to think about, there's so much evidence to show that it works, but that you, you have to really think about what you're passionate about and what is my gift, and then how can I bring it forth? And even think about it in a way that how can I bless the lives of others, and think about what is it that I was gifted with, but I can bring forward. And then what are some small things I can do today to be brave and to step into the unknown and to be kind to myself and to be brave enough, to bite off a new challenge with being realistic about the goals. 

Monica: [00:19:56] So vision still matters. I didn't for years make goals because beforehand I was too stringent on what the goals would be and how I have to reach them.

But there still needs to be a vision, right. There still needs to be this is  where I want to head. Right?

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:20:12] I would say , with integrity, what do you want in your life? What is the kind of person that you imagine you want to be? What are the things that you will respect about yourself? What are the things that you want to be in the world?

What would you, again, Jessica says this all the time, but what, what, what will you respect? And that will show you what your passions are, and that will show you what you will need to work on to, to have peace and happiness. 

Monica: [00:20:44] Yeah. And I think once you do that, I see a level of healthy detachment from the weakness too. It's just something to work on. It's something that you're aware of, but it's not something you're constantly berating yourself over that. And Jennifer, I was wondering if you have any tips on that or other tips for these women who are in this place of, okay. I'm ready for more. 

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: [00:21:04] I think one thing that's really helpful is just understanding that this struggle with perfectionism is a very human struggle. Like it's not like something's broken in you. It's just part of growing into maturity is to have enough compassion for what it means to be human and for yourself in that imperfect process to stop beating yourself up for what we all are, which is flawed and worthy.

So that in and of itself takes courage. I mean, it's stepping into a new way of thinking. And if you are a product of a system that's highly perfectionistic, or you still have parents that call you up and tell you how you're doing things wrongly or whatever, you know, to have some compassion for what you're trying to kind of gravitate towards will facilitate it. It allows you to feel less like I'm broken rather than I'm reaching for something better that is new to me, that's a new way of thinking about what it is to be who I am. So I just think it's a helpful thing because if you know, we can be perfectionistic about not being perfectionist, you know, kind of giving ourselves a little more compassion that, "No, I wish I could do it differently. I'm wiser now than I was 20 years ago. I wish I could go back and do some of these things better for the sake of those that I love." Right. But part of being human is we don't get that. We have to tolerate the terms in which life exists, and nothing really prepares you to be a parent other than being a parent.

You know, you have to just sort of be in there and you start seeing things and learning as you go. So I think learning some compassion that in and of itself is a valuable thing, because then you can be kind to yourself when you strive and you try and you fail because that's just inherent to the process.

I think that's another thing my son said to me. I said, you know, what, what are, what are things that have helped you? And he says, imperfect is the only way. It is the only way. So you just have to keep reminding yourself of that, but as you do things and you strive, it does expand what's possible. If you push yourself today in a direction, any direction, any direction that has any merit whatsoever, you have more capacity in you tomorrow to now choose a different direction because you learn something from that one or to keep going in that direction. And so while I do agree, a hundred percent with the vision idea, I talked to women about this a lot of like who do, as Carolyn was saying, you know, who do you respect being? Who do you want to become?

It's important. It's tapping into your uniqueness rather than what everyone is maybe said you should be. And so that's an important source. But I also think I've worked with women who are too caught up in who am I supposed to be? What is God's plan for me? What is this sort of larger...? And I think they're actually looking for a safe path rather than, you know, you just have to get down and roll up your sleeves and start doing things.

And you start learning as you go. Carolyn is really quite entrepreneurial. She's started lots of things that would take a lot of courage. And in a sense, I see her as somebody who can tolerate and even anticipates that it won't necessarily go well, that there is going to be mistakes.

There are going to be things that she does wrong, but that that's part of the process of refining it and making it better. And so I think the more you can accept that as inherent to the process, not as an aberration. The more courage. You have to expand your capacity in any direction. And maybe just have one more thought, which is the world just needs capacity, and there's a million ways you can become more able to make a difference.

Just the other idea is just not that there's one way for me to be who I am in the world. There's many ways to make a difference and to happiest people find a way to make a difference and it can be one of many ways. 

Monica: [00:25:32] I think often we look at that it has to be these grandiose ways. And I'm sure in both of your fields and the work that you do, you see that too.

And I think this might be the last question we end on and it's just, how can we as a society, both within our communities and also within our families help change the culture that "Success looks like someone who will never settle for any weakness or only certain levels of achievements or outcomes." 

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:26:01] You're a part of the solution, but I think what a disservice it is for us to be quiet and private about our insecurities and about our failures, about putting up a front of being perfect when that does  tremendous harm to ourselves, but also our culture and our kids. That when we fail as parents, when we fail as, you know, educators, as we fail throughout the day, how can we say we're sorry.

And just forgiving ourselves for what we are imperfect with today. What a wonderful opportunity it is to do better later. Like what a horrible notion to think that "I only have, you know, this capacity and I have no room for growth."

 Real peace has set in with me when I realize I will fail. You know, but that it is exciting to try something new, knowing that there are many people out there with wonderful resources that I can ask and get, you know, ideas from and learn from. I freely tried very hard to say to them, thank you for your gifts and your talents.

So I think having that culture of being gracious to the talents that come into our lives. And, and then being honest about what our human experiences have been. 

Monica: [00:27:36] That was so beautiful, Carolyn . Anything to add to that, Jennifer? 

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: [00:27:42] Can you remind me of the prompt question? 

Monica: [00:27:45] If not, that's that's fine.

But the question was, how can we do a better job of changing our culture about how we view achievement and what it requires to be successful? I don't think I worded it that well the first time. So maybe 

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: [00:27:59] Every time you do something, you get better.

I fully agree with Carolyn about the idea that just being more honest with one another, allowing ourselves to be more knowable. It's a great relief. I mean, if you've ever with somebody that just makes you feel good about yourself often it's because they are not pretending that they've got life figured out.

Do you know what I mean? Like they're interested in you and they make fun of themselves or they like, they, they make the fact of humanity normal and accessible for all. And being around those kinds of people is wonderful. Being around somebody who pretends a perfection it's hard to be in that energy.

So to live honestly, to live open-heartedly is a real kindness to do to other people . In some ways the external demands have a purpose in the  immediate term, in the early developmental term, you know, I need to go to school.

I don't want to learn an instrument, but my mom says I have to, you know, that there's an expectation that allows you to kind of out of someone else's expectations. Allows you to grow into some greater capacities, but as, as a parent, as a person that that's not the end point, those are the beginning points.

Then how do I bring who I am to this? How do I bring who I am to the skills that I've learned up until now, and then which skills do I want to develop further to more deeply express myself? Right. See this in watching great musicians is that they have put in hours and hours of rote practice. You have to develop a capacity in something that's meaningful to them.

But then the fact, the thing that makes them be amazing musician is then on some level, they bring all of their creativity and their heart, and they communicate a beauty to you by them being so uniquely themselves. Honestly. Right. There's an honesty in it. There's an open-heartedness in it that speaks to your heart.

And it's just such a tremendous gift when somebody gives you that in any forum. You want to give your kids some skills, but then the more you can help them to value you bringing who you are to the world in whatever form speaks to your heart.

And there are many ways you could do it. But you bringing the gift of who you are into making a difference in this world. That's, that's the successful person. I've had so many people walk through my office. They have resumes that are ridiculous. You know, they're so impressive in that external sense, but they're completely hijacked internally.

They don't feel at ease. They don't feel free in their lives. They don't feel that they have started to bring themselves to their lives and really express who they are. And that's where the freedom is. That's where success is. If we're going to use that word because they're bringing their gifts freely and they are at peace themselves.

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:31:02] And modeling that to their kids. And giving them that freedom to figure out what it is that they want to passionately bring forward to the world. 

Monica: [00:31:16] Well, you two, we are so honored to have you here. Your voices are similar, so I'm pretty sure the audience is going to be like who's talking? But you're both equally so articulate and wise.

And I love this. I love this relationship. You two have, have you always been close? 

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: [00:31:35] Yeah, I think so. You know? Yeah. I mean, you probably had some of the ebb and flow of normal parent sibling relationships, but yeah, that's a really. 

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:31:46] All of her siblings were, were annoyingly close much to our spouses.

COVID, it's been really fun to have Jennifer here, so good. 

Monica: [00:31:59] It's nice to have that compound you have going on, but yeah, so. So we like to end the podcast now just hearing from our guests, what they're working on personal development wise, since we are a personal development show. So if you could just briefly tell us what is something that you are working on yourself right now?

Carolyn Fife Bever: [00:32:16] So my awesome daughter who graduated from college about five years ago was working in a design firm and decided that she wanted to start her own business and wanted me to do it with her. And so it has been something that I have not really, I didn't fully choose it, which is a problem.

Cause I didn't really have time for it. But it really has pushed something, that's very, first of all, it's just time management is challenging, but I think I was just talking to her about this yesterday. I think, you know, with teaching and my own practice, lessons come, we, we work and then I have my own, you know, time to practice or handle my life.

And that's great. I think with this new venture, there's a lot of unknowns. And it's me settling myself down in that process of unknowns. And again, I'm literally really practicing what I preach here today. I am writing small things that I can do right now that I know will get me to where we are going and we have really blown up, which has been great, but I really have to figure out processes to make this.

Work and and not have, have high standards without that perfection mindset. And know that every day we're just going to get a little bit better at what we're doing. And and of course, you know, from teaching and growing, you know, just my studio, I remember feeling guilty about the lessons that I first started teaching, you know, like, Oh my gosh, I ruined them!

 So I have to keep reminding myself that, you know, these clients, like I might not do this perfectly, but like, I will be genuine and I will work my hardest for them and it will all be good.

And in the process, I am pushing myself. 

Monica: [00:34:12] I adore that. And I always like to see the backdrop of wherever Jennifer is. And anyone in your family now, I mean, looking at their background here, I'm always looking at wow, what is that? And what's that color. And, Ooh, I love that lamp.

Well, if you have a public feed, you'll have to share that with us and we'll make sure, okay. Yeah, we'll do that. Jennifer. What about you? 

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: [00:34:37] Let's see, there's, there's personal things I'm working on and professional things. I mean just professionally that's maybe funner and easier, but still sometimes uncomfortable because it just needs changing some patterns and systems and how we're doing things.

But we're gonna start doing more kind of group coaching experiences. I think so people have more ability to learn from each other, and there's not so much pressure on the one-on-one work that I do. And there's a little more ability for people to get in and get a little more input you know, in a slightly more personal way than just in the classes.

So we're going to go in that direction and. And I'm also going to start working with the courses more and adding more to them. So anyway, there's that, but in the personal realm, I think, you know, it's. It's just getting better at, you know, my son, same son I was talking about, he said, mom, you're not that good of a listener.

Monica: [00:35:36] This is hilarious. I have the same problem as a podcaster, ironically. So I totally relate to this. 

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: [00:35:46] Exactly. And the reason is, you know, I was doing a play with somebody. Last night. And I was saying, you know what you might say to the spouse? And they're like, Oh my gosh, that's just so articulate and helpful.

And, Oh my gosh, it's amazing. You can do that. And I said, well, in part, because it's not my spouse, you know, it's not the relationship that matters to me. So there'll be times where my son would be saying, I just don't feel like doing it. I just don't want it on. Okay. You know, I don't, let's not talk about that. Here's the answer that I'm giving them to you for free, you know, to pay for that's wisdom. Like right now I'm giving. And but the problem was of course that I was dysregulated by his struggle because it was too linked to me. You know, it was two linked to my sense of success and my sense of, you know, that it mattered a lot more to me what he did with himself, then what the client does with themselves. 

And so the ability to kind of self-regulate and manage my own perfectionism and my own fears and my own intolerance of what I couldn't control was front and center in these conversations. So when he said that to me, I was like, Oh, you are absolutely right.

I suck as a listener with you because I don't want to hear what you're saying. So I have been really working on that just with my children and my relationship with them of being more. I've really making this differentiation within myself and really confronting my own perfectionism and my own anxieties in those moments to calm myself down and to be more of a genuine resource.

Because I've in some sense, disconnected their process from my sense of self. And then when I'm in that place, I can really be a friend in the best sense of a parent child dynamic and be a resource in the best sense. And let them have their own struggle , and so that's just been valuable and I've seen it have a meaningful impact on them.

Where in some ways I'm getting out of the way. I can actually say, sorry, that's your job. And it's actually doing them a favor. So 

Monica: [00:38:03] This has been incredible. Both of you, Carolyn and Jennifer, I would love to have you both on again together.

That was just great. We should start the Carolyn Jennifer show. I think that next on your list.

Well, thank you. Both of you very much for taking the time to be on the show. 

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife: [00:38:17] Thank you, Monica.