Welcome to The Peaceful Perfectionist!
My name is Tara Cousineau and I’m the creator of The Peaceful Perfectionist.
The Peaceful Perfectionist is your newsletter dedicated to helping perfectionists and high achievers who want to:
Find Peace of Mind
Let Go of Self-Doubt
Embrace Success with Confidence, Ease, and Self-Compassion
If you want to specifically learn how to overcome the negative effects of perfectionism (which catch up with you eventually!) and learn how to befriend the inner critic, I’ve got an invitation — or a challenge — for you:
💛 You don’t have to give up excellence to become a happy achiever.
💛 Becoming a peaceful perfectionist isn't easy... but it is possible.
Here’s what you can look forward to as a subscriber:
Inspiring Content: Regular articles and stories that motivate and uplift you.
Exclusive Access: Early notifications about new projects, events, and special opportunities.
Supportive Community: A network of like-minded strivers who share a passion and vision for a meaningful and productive life.
Who Am I?
My name is Tara Cousineau.
I am a clinical psychologist, Inner Leadership Coach, and author. I am an introvert, neuroscience nerd, and an emissary for compassion. My job is to listen to stories, help you navigate life with ease and joy, and bear witness to people becoming their own healers and leaders. It is humbling and amazing work.
Admittedly, I am a recovering perfectionist (it’s in the genes), which means every day I must pay kind attention to my mind, heart, body and spirit so I can be present to my life and be there for others. I’ve had my struggles with perfectionism, the kind that eventually land you in an emergency room (read more).
I guide people in cultivating resilience and harnessing their strengths — which are often hidden or obscured by the demands of life — including uncovering:
💛 Inner Worth
💛 Inner Humanity
💛 Inner Leadership
My first book is The Kindness Cure: How the Science of Compassion Can Heal Your Heart and Your World. I wrote for my daughters, teenagers at the time, as an primer on how to live with open hearts when the world can often be competitive and cruel. Honestly, I wanted to leave behind some kind of instruction manual — no matter how imperfect.
My second book, released in January 2025, is called The Perfectionist’s Dilemma: Learn the Art of Self-Compassion and Become a Happy Achiever. This was born out of two decades of working with clients and students who struggle with never enough, imposterism, and self-doubt. Who doesn’t harbor inner critical voices? These narratives — or internal algorithms — keep you safe and playing small, and commonly try to motivate you through inner verbal harassment!
You can rewrite the algorithms and release the stuck energy that keeps you spinning in place.
My point of view is that ”perfectionism is protection.”
So let’s be curious together. I have a method for transformation, the EVOVLE Method, that you will come to know if you subscribe.
You can also watch a book trailer on WHY I wrote the The Perfectionist’s Dilemma:
What’s In it for You and Your Inner Critics:
Every week, I’ll send you an article to help you cultivate inner strengths and transform perfectionism into peace of mind and self-kindness, and spark the energies of excellence.
Premium members also get access to a monthly group “inner critic office hours” where we will go though exercises to be curious about your inner critic. It’s not therapy but offers a doorway into compassion, connection, and confidence. Over time — as I figure things out — there will be bonus resources or features for paid subscribers, e.g., exclusive articles, workshops, live sessions. Stay tuned.
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Join and Become a Happy Achiever
Be part of a community of people who want to make a difference in their worlds, no matter how large or small. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.
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