In this raw and deeply relatable conversation, I sit down once again with Jenn Borrel — sewing educator, creative, and one of the most thoughtful humans I know — to talk about perfectionism: where it comes from, how it shows up, and why so many of us struggle with it more than we realize.

This episode grew out of a real-life moment between us — one of those days where self-doubt hits hard and the inner critic is loud. Jenn held space for me that day, and the clarity and honesty she shared about her own perfectionism invited a much bigger, more universal conversation:

• Why are we so hard on ourselves?
• Why do we expect more from ourselves than we ever would from anyone else?
• And how do we soften that edge without losing our standards, our care, or our creativity?

Together, we explore the roots of perfectionism in people-pleasing, judgment, internalized expectations, and the cultural pressure to constantly prove our worth. We talk about the difference between parts of us that react out of fear and the grounded “Self energy” that responds with compassion and curiosity. We look at the pressures of being a business owner, a parent, a creative — and why so much of what we label as “failure” is actually just data.

Jenn shares beautifully about teaching kids and adults, and how she helps them release the pressure to be perfect — even while working on that same practice in herself. This conversation is gentle, validating, and so very human.

If you’ve ever felt like you should be doing more… doing better… or getting it “right” the first time, this episode will let you know you’re not alone.

If you want to connect with Jenn’s classes and private lessons, you can find her on social media at @and_sew_on_studio on instagram, Facebook or on her website at andsewonstudio.com