Present Over Perfect Video Study: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living

by Shauna Niequist

"For too many years I missed out on the life God had given me to live—to steward—because I was too busy trying to build a life that looked more...perfect." Shauna Niequist invites you to leave behind perfection-seeking and embrace presence as a way of life—free from illusions and soaked in grace.

In this five-session video Bible study (guide sold separately), New York Times bestselling author Shauna Niequist will take you on the same journey that changed her own life—away from frantic striving and toward a soulful thriving.

Maintaining an image of perfection is exhausting, and it isn't the way we're meant to live. The Present Over Perfect Study Guide will help you and your group pull each other free from the constant pressure to perform faster, push harder, and produce more. Watch Shauna give a vulnerable account of what led her to begin this journey, and a compelling vision for an entirely new way to live: soaked in grace, rest, silence, simplicity, prayer, and connection with the people that matter most to us.

Sessions include:  


Pain Points (23:00) 
The Roles We Play (20:00) 
Yes, and No (21:00) 
Unflashy, Unspectacular, Good (22:00) 
Living the Love (21:00)
Designed for use with the Present Over Perfect Study Guide (9780310816027), sold separately.

DVD

Published November 8, 2016

About the author

Shauna Niequist is the author of Cold Tangerines, Bittersweet, and Bread & Wine. Shauna grew up in Barrington, Illinois, and then studied English and French Literature at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. She is married to Aaron Niequist, who is a pianist and songwriter. Aaron is a worship leader at Willow Creek Community Church and is recording a project called A New Liturgy. Aaron & Shauna live outside Chicago with their sons, Henry and Mac. Shauna writes about the beautiful and broken moments of everyday life--friendship, family, faith, food, marriage, love, babies, books, celebration, heartache, and all the other things that shape us, delight us, and reveal to us the heart of God.

Reviews

[Kimberly Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great companionship guide to the book. It gave me many opportunities to dig deeper and do some soul work. I loved writing down what I was processing while reading through the book. I recommend this for a group of women! I didn’t have the DVD set to watch alongside and I feel like that would have been even more impactful. I just watched the first session on YouTube but that was it.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated the message of this book - slow down, focus on what’s actually important, and truly connect with and love the people around you.

I’m all in for this message, but I do wish Shauna had given us some more tangible techniques for how to make this work. It was hard for me to relate to her situation sometimes - is she able to easily turn down work opportunities and not worry about the effect that has on her family’s income and ability to provide for her children? Also her schedule is a lot more flexible than my 9-5. This message can still most definitely be applied to my life, but it won’t look the exact same. I want to spend some time dwelling on this and really thinking through how I can apply what I learned in this book to my life.

[Nicole]

simply beautiful

[Sylvie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

a deep dive into self-acceptance.

[Wendy Pittman]

Gift from Carleigh

[Eugenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You don't have to "prove" yourself in any way and you are worthy of being loved just because I am created not because of what I achieve/produce.