Good, Great, Perfect: Ditch Perfectionism for Good Enough and Succeed More

by Rebecca Ray (Author/Narrator)

Listening Length 4 hours and 9 minutes

There are expectations of perfection you’ve been conditioned to believe in. You’ll never achieve this perfection, because you are perfectly human. Dr Rebecca Ray will help you understand that there is a workable alternative; somewhere between good and great, a ‘good enough’ that will support you in achieving your biggest dreams, healing the parts of you that hurt, and making the right choices for your best life.

Letting go of perfectionism requires us to transform these patterns of unrelenting expectations into an inner voice of encouragement and accountability. Alter your focus from outcome to process, from winning to trying, from comparison to what’s in alignment with your own path. Break free from the prison of perfectionism and embrace the ‘good enough’ for your self-worth, self-talk, habits, boundaries, and success.

Good, Great, Perfect will help you let go of the pressure to constantly be, have, and do more, but still achieve your goals. Dr Rebecca Ray, writer, speaker and clinical psychologist, has created a motivational and practical step-by-step guide for creating a great life by embracing good enough.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help, Psychology, Mental Health

Audible Audio

First published December 13, 2022

About the author

Dr Rebecca Ray is a clinical psychologist, author and speaker who helps big-picture-thinking people master their psychology. Over the course of two decades of consultations, speaking events, books, and audio, she has encouraged thousands of humans making an impact on the world to live a life that's fulfilling, unapologetic, and free.

Beck’s expertise as a professional zig-zagger sets her apart as one of Australia’s most in-demand and authoritative voices in the personal development space. Her science-backed, hard and heart truth approach is uniquely informed by her pivots from pilot to psychologist, from dating men to marrying a woman, and from being burnt out to bestselling author.

Beck is the author of six books, including Be Happy, The Art of Self-Kindness, The Universe Listens to Brave, Setting Boundaries, Small Habits for a Big Life, and Difficult People (released in May 2023).

She lives in the soul-fed hills of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland with the great loves of her life: her wife Nyssa, son Bennett, two rescue Irish Setters and one gangly Weimaraner.

Reviews

[Nicolene Murdoch · Rating 1 out of 5]

I might have considered 2 stars if I was not addressed as “lovely one”…

[Melinda Nankivell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel a little bad giving what was offered as a free book on Audible 1 star, but at the same time, I am also annoyed at how this book was marketed, mainly as it's not a bloody book!

This is a collection of podcast episodes with no editing, which means that each 'chapter' is actually an episode, so we have to sit through the author introducing herself and the sodding 'book' at the start of every episode. It REALLY needed to be edited to suit an audiobook format. Add to that, it still contains audio recording errors such as coughing, restarting sentences due to a stuff-up, that kind of thing.

So, the content itself? Unfortunately it offered nothing new for an old hat like me, so perhaps it's targeted more towards younger people who might get something out of this. I personally found it repetitive.

It seems in this instance, all involved with the production of this as an 'audiobook' took on board the author's lesson that it's ok to be 'good enough'.

EDITED TO ADD: Oh and please don't refer to me as 'lovely one'!!!

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had nothing that I didn't already know, was a bit repetitive also. However, it was delivered earnestly, you can tell the author cares about her work a lot.

[ellmoo.books · Rating 2 out of 5]

DID NOT FINISH. 60% finished.
This audiobook started okay, with some relevant and interesting points for the listener. As it progressed, I struggled to continue listening, and thus I did not finish. The repetitive nature of the content, the overuse of the word "love" and the overall tone of the speaker made my experience one that was not enjoyable. I would not try to listen to this again. I believe that this book might be useful to a very specific audience and I was not one of them.

[Kirstie Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I decided to give this extremely short book ago because Audible offered it up for free - and it was alright. It's basically just a podcast rolled up into an audiobook format.

It had lots of good points and great advice, but it definitely suffered from the fact that hardly anything (anything at all?) had been done to convert this from podcast mode to book mode. The repetitive introduction and 'see you next episode' vibe was not a vibe when you're there for a book.

I think I'd enjoy this author in other formats, but it doesn't have the deep(er) dive that I find satisfying in most other self-help books.

And good god, 'lovely one' made my eye twitch.

[Ani Møller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang the reviews of this are HARSH. Personally, I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t have high expectations as it was a free Audible book and I didn’t know what to expect. But it had some really great sections, especially chapter 5 about “good enough self talk”. That part was so good I wrote it down and shared it with friends. The whole book was less than 5hrs long, and had some good reflections.

[Nell · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is very personable, and feels like your own pocket psychologist. It didn't get a higher rating because I got sick of the "lovely one" that came up (I get it's supposed to be supportive but I didn't like it), plus I don't think the content was really something I needed.
Plenty of people I know who would benefit from certain chapters though

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good, Great, Perfect is a free podcast series available with an Audible Australia subscription. I listened to it intermittently while running over a few months, although got somewhat confused, because it turned out a different series I also had going, called Breakthrough, is by the same author, although for some reason that one is not currently listed on GoodReads. This one is about overcoming perfectionism, which interested me despite not being a very good perfectionist - it turns out I’m about midway on the scale of all the criteria she lists in the introduction. I found it rather repetitive and the messages completely forgettable, with too many personal anecdotes about her own family and relationships. The series is divided into ten chapters, with her introducing herself at the beginning of each episode, which became very tedious. I don’t feel I learned anything particularly useful, but as mentioned, I’m perhaps not the target audience. She has an earnest somewhat forced delivery, and an infuriating tendency to address the listener as “Lovely One” which ensures I won’t be downloading any more of her books.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where perfectionism shuts you down, “Good Enough” opens you up. Perfectionism is unattainable. Good Enough is readily achievable. Perfectionism is a self-built prison. Whereas Good Enough is your key to freedom.
00:43:06 Episode 2: Good Enough Is Great


The poor editing really annoyed me. Also, being referred too as “lovely one” and “darling one” when excuse me? I didn’t even know you! Had some good tips but otherwise pretty stock standard. A helpful reminder audiobook for the currently recovering, and I’m sure a really good introduction to concepts for the uninitiated, non-yet-recovering perfectionists.

I also felt way too seen with this quote, because how many times have I just gone and picked “the middle one” out of ease eek:

“According to consumer psychology research, just three choices are enough to send the brain into seeking a default sorting mode, the middle choice of which is most common. Keep this in mind if you’re designing a shop page on your website or merchandising your products and the markets.”
00:41:04 Episode 2: Good Enough Is Great

[Rachael Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personally this was a great tool to reflect on areas in my life where I aim to be too much of a perfectionist. Many segments hit close to home. An easy listen with good strategies and tips. Plus the author called the listener "lovely one" which is so sweet and felt very reassuring <3

[Georgie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the Australian voice and the episodic and repetitive nature actually helped me solidify some of the important lessons. I'm new to self help. It helps.

[Raine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t really need to be a book. Very repetitive, could have been an article. However, some very good tips in the book.

[Michaela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Am ok read with some good ideas. A bit repetitive for my liking.

[Jessie Deliciously Weird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Enough that I’m writing a review- which I rarely do. I’ve noted some have referred to the calling of “lovely one” and it made them cringe. Perhaps I’m starved of words of affirmation or kindness but I found this endearing. It felt as though she was speaking directly to me, in a caring and supportive way. I struggle with perfectionism holding me back in almost every aspect of my life, especially business, and having someone kindly remind me that “good enough” really is just that. I feel more encouraged to give things a go and be more vulnerable rather than avoid trying due to not being 110% perfect. Thank you 😊 🥰

[Marianne Webb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book as I’m a bit of a perfectionist. This was that scrap perfect as good is good enough which I try to do. But the book and her helpful ideas just didn’t gel with me.

[Jeremy Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was pleasantly surprised with this one -- I picked this up as a free audiobook on Audible. It's basically a series of podcast episodes collected into an audiobook, and I don't mind that.

I've already read some of Brene Brown's stuff on perfectionism, and I was expected this to cover a lot of the same ground. But there was definitely enough new here to keep my attention and I felt like I was learning the whole way, with frequent moments that "hit hard." The author asks questions throughout which were highly relevant to perfectionism, which I've struggled with -- I felt seen/understood and I believe those questions and the lessons around them are helpful.

It's short, and I'd definitely recommend Brene Brown's work on top of this for anyone interested, but I found this quite valuable too.

[Kerrie Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel a little guilty counting this book on my list, but it’s my list, so…

I can see how this would hit home for some people. She quotes a lot of those memes we see regularly on social media to lose the guilt and love who you are…

I can also see why quite a few people were unhappy with this - it’s very trite. She’s not saying anything that hasn’t been said by dozens of others over the last decade or two. And honestly, the frequent ‘my loves’ to refer to the listener are quite ‘cringe’…

[Juanita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not a book but a collection of podcasts. Having said that it had some great information in it. I love the idea of being good enough instead of striving for some unrealistic standards. If you lean towards perfectionism at all this would be great for you.

[Sarah Cupitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Takeaway: If I ever doubt my work, just listen to this book and remember how bad it was

The only reason this didn't get 1 star is because of the start. I still have an hour and 41 minutes (I've now switched to double speed to make her tone marginally LESS ANNOYING) to listen to this annoying spiel of relatableness and voice mimicking and ahhh. If you applied this authors framework of thinking to her own book you would have thought she would have at least made it GOOD at the BARE MINIMUM. Also who creates and audiobook and makes it sound like a podcast?

I feel like this sounded like a condescending friend giving life advice but doesn't take any of their own. In this case I feel like the author of this 'book' wrote this to prove writing something doesn't need to be perfect to be published. I really wanted to hear some of her good points without the relatable BS or the simplification of things to make it easier to understand? As if this wasn't already dumbed down?

Do not want to hear "lovely one" every fucking again
I hope the author also refelctied on her experience reading this book
so fucking repetitive, also nothing new or revolutionary
This book or whatever you want to call it - was free for a reason on audible
I finished it solely out of spite and to also do work while suffering threw her tone of voice

Plot twist the author decided to pursue anti perfectionism because her work wasn't good enough quality to be considered perfectionist standard or original so now shes all 'good enough' as an acceptance speech for whatever the hell this podcast was (sorry not sorry)

also the self forgiveness spiel - HOW DID YOU FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR WRITING THIS AND THEN SHARING IT THINKING IT WAS GOOD MY HEAD IS KILLING ME

WAIT THIS BISH IS A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGLIST???

[Cassie Renais · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this review really needs to be split into two parts: form and content.

As many reviewers have mentioned, this 'book' isn't really a book, and that definitely detracts from the experience. A lot of time is lost listening to the same outro/intro combo between episodes that could very easily have been edited to make chapters. There are imperfections in the audio that might be deliberate since we are discussing perfectionism and the fact that 'good enough' is better than perfect. What might have been endearing in a cosy conversation felt distracting in a piece of professional publishing.

As for content, this book wasn't breaking any new ground, but it was written kindly and accessibly. Listening to this book felt like a gentle pep talk, and a reminder to challenge perfectionist thought patterns and tendencies where they crop up in life. Most perfectionists know already that they are perfectionists, and the negative influences that has on their lives. But Dr Ray highlighted some factors that I wouldn't have noticed about myself without her input, areas in which perfectionism was limiting me without me noticing. So even though it's not groundbreaking stuff, it's still helpful to run through that reminder, to challenge yourself to see all the ways you are holding yourself back through perfectionism. It helps that it's a comparatively short 'book', and so doesn't have to be an enormous commitment.

Overall, this 'book' felt like a warm hug and a gentle nudge to do the work needed to define success/happiness/boundaries according to our own values. In the end, perfection isn't possible, and good enough doesn't mean settling for less- it means doing more without worrying.

[CadyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this useful!
I’ve been meaning to read something by Rebecca for a while now and this seemed like a great, quick one. She narrated it and seems super cool 😊 She is a great narrator, and it was nice to hear from a queer psychologist ❤️
I agree with the other reviews that this wasn’t an audiobook though, it specifically said episodes.
I felt a bit like “oh Rebecca, did Amazon screw you over?” Why was there not the budget to record in a formal studio? Why was there not editing? It could have been the point to leave in the mistakes (as this is about not being perfect) but damn. If it wasn’t intentional then she is a queen for powering through.
This book really drew my attention to the fact that I have perfectionist tendencies and I want to give myself more room to breathe and just be. It seemed like it would be a great help in me achieving that goal, learning at the start of this year.
One of the most important parts for me was about boundaries. She explained why people with trauma or anxiety find it hard to enforce them and how to go about doing it (“I feel…because of this…and I need). She said that boundaries are a guidebook to tell others how they should treat you and I think that’s great! It was also about recognising that I have self worth, where trying to be perfect so others would accept me means I am not being myself or realistic. It was nice how Rebecca kept calling us “lovely one”🥰
Positive self talk is a habit I am trying to get into so it was nice to hear her affirm how you can make your own headspace a better place to be.
The part about forgiving yourself is also something I am working through. Determining what success also means to me is something I am doing too.
She kept saying exercise 3-5 times a week minimum is good enough I was like “dayummm that’s minimum?!”
The love part was interesting. She said if someone is not harming you and you love each other, the love doesn’t have to be perfect or like in the movies. There will be ups and downs and problems but the important thing is to be there for each other and love.
Another key part was emotional regulation. I have now been practicing the habit of: being aware of an emotion, thinking about it, acknowledging why it is there and then considering what I need because of it.
She also said that doing something good enough is better than not starting something perfect and damn is that true. I am going to give things a go and see how they turn out!
Overall this was a short, uplifting book to listen to about how things being good enough is good enough! It aligned with my own journey and will bolster my ongoing development 😊 Rebecca is now one of my heroes haha

[Emily Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big self help gal, but I like to start the New Year off with a self help book and I really enjoyed Good Great Perfect, which I chose, as I see a lot of other people on Goodreads did, because it was Audible's free pick in January.
My thesis statement on self help is that there's three categories - objectively rubbish and cash grabby (looking at you Gary Vee/grindset influencers), new and innovative (of which there is very little due to the saturation of the genre) and useful dependent on the consumer. Good Great Perfect was very relevant to me and was told in a tone that I enjoyed (I understand why others weren't into it though) - I felt like Dr Ray addressed the various areas of life that perfectionism impacts in a very understandle way, with examples and personal anecdotes, and presented reasonable and realistic solutions.

[Maria Blackmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike other texts in the self-help genre, Rebecca Ray doesn't dwell on studies and references, creating an encyclopedia of sorts showing you 'the best of the best'. I appreciated that. Instead, she speaks candidly about her perceived shortcomings and those of people close to her to help you better understand how limiting perfectionism can be in life. Then she bolsters you with practical skills to help you PAUSE and move forward more effectively. I'm keen to start enacting the good enough mentality in my life, a concept foreign and scary if I'm honest. If you consider yourself to be a perfectionist, Good, Great, Perfect is a must-listen.

[Juliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful podcast-slapped-with-the-audiobook-label with simple, basic, clear advice on how to be less of a perfectionist. I liked the formatting of the episodes, with affirmations and questions to answer for ourselves. Nice to listen to, I would listen again. But ideally I would like to read a physical book on the topic in the future. I didn't really pick up on the whole "lovely one" repetition until I saw it in reviews and then it made me roll my eyes whenever I heard it, so overall I wouldn't say it bothered me much. I found the repetitions helpful as I'm the kind of person who needs to hear things multiple times to actually HEAR them. Doesn't deserve the low rating this has, imo.

[Paizli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rebecca is very passionate about the topic which makes for an interesting listen, but a lot of the things discussed felt like common knowledge to me.

It was more of a combination of podcasts than a book, and if you actually wanted to improve yourself from it I would recommend listening to an episode/chapter a day at a time so you have more time to reflect and delve into what has been spoken about.

Not really for me.
2.5☆

[Anne Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lively, engaging audiobook although there was nothing new in this that I hadn't heard or read before. An irritating habit of the narrator was to address the listener as "lovely one" or "lovelies" and also that at the beginning of each chapter we had to listen to another introduction of the whole series including the quite long title. Enough! We get it already. Good enough, I guess you could say!

[Rowena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really a podcast (in episodes ) rather than a book, but I am really glad that Goodreads have added it to their "collection" because it was the Audible Australia Editor's Extra a couple of months ago and I have made a solemn pledge to read all of these even if they are my non-preferred genre of non-fiction.
Many have said that this was only ok rather than spectacular, but I guess good enough is great if you need to get over your perfectionism.

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good succinct approach (if a bit repetitive - but it is necessary to repeat some messages!).

I found the style accessible and not too preachy. I liked the examples and the lack of academic over-explanining. I wasn't a good student however as I didn't go back and do a lot of the suggested work :-(

I actually listened to this audio book while commuting as it was a great match for that "dipping in and out" over a week

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good Great Perfect wasn’t what I expected. I went into it hoping for a cohesive, insightful read, but it ended up feeling more like a collection of podcast episodes than a fully formed book. The ideas weren’t new, and the structure made it hard to stay engaged. There were a few moments that were relatable, but overall it didn’t offer much that I hadn’t already heard elsewhere. Just not the right fit for me.

[Jane (Avid reader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only listened to this because it was the editors pick on audible for this month. Whilst there is some good advice here the tone is super irritating - especially being addressed as “my lovelies” at regular intervals. Also the anecdotes that provide context for the advice did not really resonate for me.