Are you a perfectionist? It is totally fine if you answered yes!

On this episode of On Purpose, Jay Shetty tells stories about how he overcame the perfectionist mindset and provides six simple steps for you to do it too. 

Are you a perfectionist? It is totally fine if you answered yes!
On this episode of On Purpose, Jay Shetty tells stories about how he overcame the perfectionist mindset and provides six simple steps for you to do it too.

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.

I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.
I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

Are you a perfectionist? It is totally fine if you answered yes!

On this episode of On Purpose, Jay Shetty tells stories about how he overcame the perfectionist mindset and provides six simple steps for you to do it too.

6 Steps to Overcome the Perfectionist Mindset and Focus On the Process

Matthew McConaughey didn’t build his life by trying to control every outcome. He built it by learning when to let go and when to trust.

Today, Jay sits down with Matthew for a raw, unfiltered exploration of purpose, faith, discipline, and what it really means to live well. It’s an honest conversation about the moments that shape us, and the choices that quietly define who we become. Together, they move through certainty and surrender, ambition and presence, effort and trust.

Matthew opens up about his lifelong relationship with achievement and his growing desire to create space for stillness, daydreaming, and reflection. He shares how writing became a way to strip away filters and speak more directly to his truth, and how fatherhood reshaped his understanding of responsibility, humility, and love. Jay and Matthew explore failure as a sign of growth, and how disappointment when met with self-awareness, can teach rather than define us. Together they reveal a powerful insight: growth doesn’t come from trying to perfect ourselves, but from learning how to stay present, curious, and grounded through every season of life. 

Matthew reflects on the balance between taking responsibility and letting go, between striving for excellence and accepting imperfection. He shares why he believes the world is conspiring to make us happy, not through ease, but through meaning, effort, and alignment.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Trust Life Without Losing Control

How to Redefine Success Beyond Achievement

How to Learn From Failure Without Shame

How to Build Trust Before You Need It

How to Stay Present Without Chasing Perfection

How to Strengthen Love Through Daily Intention

How to Find Meaning When Answers Aren’t Clear

Life isn’t asking you to be perfect, it’s asking you to be present. To stay curious. To keep learning. To choose courage over comfort and intention over autopilot. No matter where you are right now, progress is still possible, meaning is still available, and your next step matters.

Explore Matthew McConaughey’s reflections  on faith, belief, and the human experience in his book Poems & Prayers: http://poemsprayers.com/

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:16 The Drive for Purpose and Accomplishment

04:23 Living With a Beginner’s Mind

07:20 What Chapter of Life Are You In Right Now?

13:21 Why You’re Exactly Where You Need to Be

16:25 How Your View of Success Shapes Failure

20:39 Humility Means Being Honest With Yourself

23:15 The Power of Consequences

25:47 You Just Need to Take One Step at a Time

30:49 Staying Grounded in Faith Through Real Life Experiences 

34:37 Ways to Strengthen Your Spiritual Practice

45:29 What is Truly Fascinating About Being Human?

50:45 Are We Expecting Too Much From Others?

58:57 Where Do You Seek Validation?

01:01:56 Learning to Trust Without Losing Control

01:08:28 When Everything Matters, Nothing Does

01:13:24 A More Realistic Way to Think About Love

01:24:14 Understanding Both Sides of Consequence

01:27:49 Matthew on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Poems & Prayers | http://poemsprayers.com/

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/officiallymcconaughey/ 

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChH3PVceKAMkFXHza0PlX_Q 

X | https://x.com/McConaughey 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/MatthewMcConaughey/ 

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@officiallymcconaughey_m

Matthew McConaughey didn&rsquo;t build his life by trying to control every outcome. He built it by learning when to let go and when to trust.
Today, Jay sits down with Matthew for a raw, unfiltered exploration of purpose, faith, discipline, and what it really means to live well. It&rsquo;s an honest conversation about the moments that shape us, and the choices that quietly define who we become. Together, they move through certainty and surrender, ambition and presence, effort and trust.
Matthew opens up about his lifelong relationship with achievement and his growing desire to create space for stillness, daydreaming, and reflection. He shares how writing became a way to strip away filters and speak more directly to his truth, and how fatherhood reshaped his understanding of responsibility, humility, and love. Jay and Matthew explore failure as a sign of growth, and how disappointment when met with self-awareness, can teach rather than define us. Together they reveal a powerful insight: growth doesn&rsquo;t come from trying to perfect ourselves, but from learning how to stay present, curious, and grounded through every season of life.&nbsp;
Matthew reflects on the balance between taking responsibility and letting go, between striving for excellence and accepting imperfection. He shares why he believes the world is conspiring to make us happy, not through ease, but through meaning, effort, and alignment.
In this interview, you'll learn:
How to Trust Life Without Losing Control
How to Redefine Success Beyond Achievement
How to Learn From Failure Without Shame
How to Build Trust Before You Need It
How to Stay Present Without Chasing Perfection
How to Strengthen Love Through Daily Intention
How to Find Meaning When Answers Aren&rsquo;t Clear
Life isn&rsquo;t asking you to be perfect, it&rsquo;s asking you to be present. To stay curious. To keep learning. To choose courage over comfort and intention over autopilot. No matter where you are right now, progress is still possible, meaning is still available, and your next step matters.
Explore Matthew McConaughey&rsquo;s reflections&nbsp; on faith, belief, and the human experience in his book Poems &amp; Prayers: <a href="http://poemsprayers.com/">http://poemsprayers.com/</a>
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">here</a>.&nbsp;
Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! <a href="https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast">https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast</a>&nbsp;
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
01:16 The Drive for Purpose and Accomplishment
04:23 Living With a Beginner&rsquo;s Mind
07:20 What Chapter of Life Are You In Right Now?
13:21 Why You&rsquo;re Exactly Where You Need to Be
16:25 How Your View of Success Shapes Failure
20:39 Humility Means Being Honest With Yourself
23:15 The Power of Consequences
25:47 You Just Need to Take One Step at a Time
30:49 Staying Grounded in Faith Through Real Life Experiences&nbsp;
34:37 Ways to Strengthen Your Spiritual Practice
45:29 What is Truly Fascinating About Being Human?
50:45 Are We Expecting Too Much From Others?
58:57 Where Do You Seek Validation?
01:01:56 Learning to Trust Without Losing Control
01:08:28 When Everything Matters, Nothing Does
01:13:24 A More Realistic Way to Think About Love
01:24:14 Understanding Both Sides of Consequence
01:27:49 Matthew on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Poems &amp; Prayers | <a href="http://poemsprayers.com/">http://poemsprayers.com/</a>
Instagram | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/officiallymcconaughey/">https://www.instagram.com/officiallymcconaughey/</a>&nbsp;
YouTube | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChH3PVceKAMkFXHza0PlX_Q">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChH3PVceKAMkFXHza0PlX_Q</a>&nbsp;
X | <a href="https://x.com/McConaughey">https://x.com/McConaughey</a>&nbsp;
Facebook | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MatthewMcConaughey/">https://www.facebook.com/MatthewMcConaughey/</a>&nbsp;
TikTok | <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@officiallymcconaughey_m">https://www.tiktok.com/@officiallymcconaughey_m</a>

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: The KEYS to a Meaningful Life (Love, Faith, Family & Turning Failure into Growth)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9d1105a8-b0da-4330-8465-b3d0005c9ece/transcript

Today, Jay invites us to rethink everything we’ve been taught about breaking bad habits. Instead of blaming willpower, discipline, or personality traits, he reframes habits as systems shaped by our triggers, emotions, and environments. He explains why most habits aren’t character flaws but subconscious coping strategies designed to provide comfort, escape, or relief. With this approach, we end up battling ourselves instead of breaking the loop that’s actually sustaining the habit. The real shift begins when we stop asking “What’s wrong with me?” and start asking “What is this habit doing for me?”

Jay then breaks down the four-part habit loop: trigger, emotion, behavior, and reward and shows how interrupting just one part can collapse the entire pattern. He explains that our environment matters more than motivation and if you want to change a habit, you have to change the cues that trigger it. Rather than quitting habits cold turkey, he encourages replacing the reward with a healthier form of relief, reminding us that the brain will always seek comfort. Through simple, practical examples, he shows how small interruptions, conscious pauses, and thoughtful substitutions can dismantle habits that once felt impossible to break. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Break Bad Habits Without Relying on Willpower

How to Identify the Hidden Triggers Fueling Your Habits

How to Interrupt the Habit Loop

How to Stop Fighting Habits and Start Understanding Them

How to Build an Identity That Makes Good Habits Stick

How to Use Small Replacements to Create Big Change

Every habit you want to change once served a purpose, now you get to decide what serves you going forward. When you become aware of your triggers, redesign your environment, and choose support over struggle, growth becomes lighter and more sustainable. 

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

00:34 How Do You Actually Break a Bad Habit?

02:06 You Are Not Your Habits

05:04 The 4-Part Loop that Creates the Habit

07:11 Action #1: Redesign Your Triggers

08:44 Action #2: Replace the Reward not the Habit

11:33 Action #3: Interrupt the Loop In Real Time

12:48 Action #4: Build a New Identity Around Your Choices

15:00 The #1 Mistake in Breaking Habits

15:51 90-Day Habit Breakup Blueprint

Today, Jay invites us to rethink everything we&rsquo;ve been taught about breaking bad habits. Instead of blaming willpower, discipline, or personality traits, he reframes habits as systems shaped by our triggers, emotions, and environments. He explains why most habits aren&rsquo;t character flaws but subconscious coping strategies designed to provide comfort, escape, or relief. With this approach, we end up battling ourselves instead of breaking the loop that&rsquo;s actually sustaining the habit. The real shift begins when we stop asking &ldquo;What&rsquo;s wrong with me?&rdquo; and start asking &ldquo;What is this habit doing for me?&rdquo;
Jay then breaks down the four-part habit loop: trigger, emotion, behavior, and reward and shows how interrupting just one part can collapse the entire pattern. He explains that our environment matters more than motivation and if you want to change a habit, you have to change the cues that trigger it. Rather than quitting habits cold turkey, he encourages replacing the reward with a healthier form of relief, reminding us that the brain will always seek comfort. Through simple, practical examples, he shows how small interruptions, conscious pauses, and thoughtful substitutions can dismantle habits that once felt impossible to break.&nbsp;
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to Break Bad Habits Without Relying on Willpower
How to Identify the Hidden Triggers Fueling Your Habits
How to Interrupt the Habit Loop
How to Stop Fighting Habits and Start Understanding Them
How to Build an Identity That Makes Good Habits Stick
How to Use Small Replacements to Create Big Change
Every habit you want to change once served a purpose, now you get to decide what serves you going forward. When you become aware of your triggers, redesign your environment, and choose support over struggle, growth becomes lighter and more sustainable.&nbsp;
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">here</a>.
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
00:34 How Do You Actually Break a Bad Habit?
02:06 You Are Not Your Habits
05:04 The 4-Part Loop that Creates the Habit
07:11 Action #1: Redesign Your Triggers
08:44 Action #2: Replace the Reward not the Habit
11:33 Action #3: Interrupt the Loop In Real Time
12:48 Action #4: Build a New Identity Around Your Choices
15:00 The #1 Mistake in Breaking Habits
15:51 90-Day Habit Breakup Blueprint

How to Break 90% of Your Bad Habits in 2026! (Use THIS 10-Second Trick and Beat the Pattern!)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5034cad3-6558-4bb5-8f6a-b3cd002748c2/transcript

Alex Honnold doesn’t climb to feel alive, he climbs because, in those moments, life finally feels simple.

Today, Jay sits down with world-renowned climber Alex Honnold to explore what truly lies behind fear, focus, and extraordinary achievement. Alex shares how his relationship with fear has been shaped not by a lack of it, but by years of consistent exposure, revealing that courage isn’t about being fearless, but about learning how to listen, respond, and stay present.

Jay and Alex dive into the discipline behind seemingly impossible feats: visualization, preparation, and intentional living. Alex opens up about how he mentally rehearses climbs in vivid detail, not by imagining success alone, but by walking through every sensation, risk, and possibility. This process, he explains, allows him to stay calm and grounded when it matters most. Jay draws parallels to meditation, public speaking, and everyday challenges, showing how the same principles of visualization, presence, and focus can help anyone face intimidating moments with clarity and confidence.

Beyond climbing, Alex shows his other self, a husband, father, and friend who values simplicity, purpose, and service. From building a foundation that brings solar energy to communities in need to choosing joy over ego-driven success, Alex embodies a life guided by intention rather than external validation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Build Calm by Facing Fear

How to Train Your Mind Before You Act

How to Stay Focused When the Stakes Are High

How to Normalize Fear Instead of Fighting It

How to Use Visualization for Peak Performance

How to Know Your Limits Without Losing Ambition

How to Build Mastery Through Consistent Practice

You don’t need to chase danger or push yourself to the edge to grow. Growth happens when you prepare with intention, focus on what’s in front of you, and stop letting imagined outcomes hold you back.

Watch Alex Honnold free-solo the 101-story Skyscraper, Taipei 101 live on Netflix on January 23rd.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:27 The Deeper Reason Behind Climbing the Tallest Building

04:11 Choosing an Unconventional Path

06:58 Why Consistent Practice Changes Everything

09:28 What It Really Takes to Become Great

11:51 Lessons From Getting Lost

13:41 Why Fear Loses Its Power Over Time

17:00 Understanding Fear as a Physical Sensation

20:42 The Discipline of Staying Within Your Limits

22:41 What Extended Meditation Teaches You

25:55 Preparing the Mind and Body for a Big Challenge

28:51 How High Performers Actually Train

33:03 Being Intentional About the Risks You Take

34:42 Why Visualization Is a Performance Tool

38:36 Imagining the Process, Not Just the Outcome

42:32 Nature vs. Nurture: What Shapes Us Early in Life

45:58 Perfectionism, Pressure, and Letting Go

47:21 Daily Habits That Support Peak Performance

50:54 Bringing an Adventurous Mindset Into Everyday Life

53:48 Handling the Pressure Before a Defining Moment

56:49 The Climb That Redefined Human Potential

58:54 What Truly Matters When Choosing a Life Partner

01:03:31 Spotlighting People Protecting the Planet

01:03:31 What They're Doing at Planet Visionaries

01:06:07 A Letter for Alex

01:14:10 Alex on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Website | https://www.alexhonnold.com/ 

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/alexhonnold 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/AlexHonnold/ 

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqnNQOiZzpPNazMN0cBAzw 

Planet Visionaries | https://podcasts.apple.com/kg/podcast/planet-visionaries-season-5/id1572495128 

Honnold Foundation | https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/ 

Alex Honnold doesn&rsquo;t climb to feel alive, he climbs because, in those moments, life finally feels simple.
Today, Jay sits down with world-renowned climber Alex Honnold to explore what truly lies behind fear, focus, and extraordinary achievement. Alex shares how his relationship with fear has been shaped not by a lack of it, but by years of consistent exposure, revealing that courage isn&rsquo;t about being fearless, but about learning how to listen, respond, and stay present.
Jay and Alex dive into the discipline behind seemingly impossible feats: visualization, preparation, and intentional living. Alex opens up about how he mentally rehearses climbs in vivid detail, not by imagining success alone, but by walking through every sensation, risk, and possibility. This process, he explains, allows him to stay calm and grounded when it matters most. Jay draws parallels to meditation, public speaking, and everyday challenges, showing how the same principles of visualization, presence, and focus can help anyone face intimidating moments with clarity and confidence.
Beyond climbing, Alex shows his other self, a husband, father, and friend who values simplicity, purpose, and service. From building a foundation that brings solar energy to communities in need to choosing joy over ego-driven success, Alex embodies a life guided by intention rather than external validation.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to Build Calm by Facing Fear
How to Train Your Mind Before You Act
How to Stay Focused When the Stakes Are High
How to Normalize Fear Instead of Fighting It
How to Use Visualization for Peak Performance
How to Know Your Limits Without Losing Ambition
How to Build Mastery Through Consistent Practice
You don&rsquo;t need to chase danger or push yourself to the edge to grow. Growth happens when you prepare with intention, focus on what&rsquo;s in front of you, and stop letting imagined outcomes hold you back.
Watch Alex Honnold free-solo the 101-story Skyscraper, Taipei 101 live on Netflix on January 23rd.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">here</a>.&nbsp;
Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! <a href="https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast">https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast</a>&nbsp;
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
01:27 The Deeper Reason Behind Climbing the Tallest Building
04:11 Choosing an Unconventional Path
06:58 Why Consistent Practice Changes Everything
09:28 What It Really Takes to Become Great
11:51 Lessons From Getting Lost
13:41 Why Fear Loses Its Power Over Time
17:00 Understanding Fear as a Physical Sensation
20:42 The Discipline of Staying Within Your Limits
22:41 What Extended Meditation Teaches You
25:55 Preparing the Mind and Body for a Big Challenge
28:51 How High Performers Actually Train
33:03 Being Intentional About the Risks You Take
34:42 Why Visualization Is a Performance Tool
38:36 Imagining the Process, Not Just the Outcome
42:32 Nature vs. Nurture: What Shapes Us Early in Life
45:58 Perfectionism, Pressure, and Letting Go
47:21 Daily Habits That Support Peak Performance
50:54 Bringing an Adventurous Mindset Into Everyday Life
53:48 Handling the Pressure Before a Defining Moment
56:49 The Climb That Redefined Human Potential
58:54 What Truly Matters When Choosing a Life Partner
01:03:31 Spotlighting People Protecting the Planet
01:03:31 What They're Doing at Planet Visionaries
01:06:07 A Letter for Alex
01:14:10 Alex on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Website | <a href="https://www.alexhonnold.com/">https://www.alexhonnold.com/</a>&nbsp;
Instagram | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alexhonnold">https://www.instagram.com/alexhonnold</a>&nbsp;
Facebook | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlexHonnold/">https://www.facebook.com/AlexHonnold/</a>&nbsp;
YouTube | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqnNQOiZzpPNazMN0cBAzw">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqnNQOiZzpPNazMN0cBAzw</a>&nbsp;
Planet Visionaries | <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/kg/podcast/planet-visionaries-season-5/id1572495128">https://podcasts.apple.com/kg/podcast/planet-visionaries-season-5/id1572495128</a>&nbsp;
Honnold Foundation | <a href="https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/">https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/</a>&nbsp;

ALEX HONNOLD: ONE Interview Before Free-Soloing Taiwan’s Tallest Building LIVE (This Episode Will Change Your Relationship with FEAR)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0f7380c4-7ab6-4a82-9072-b3cb006836d8/transcript

6 Steps to Overcome the Perfectionist Mindset and Focus On the Process

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