Katherine Morgan Schafler on Control, Perfectionism, and Letting Go

Have you ever felt like your drive to do things right ends up feeling… wrong? Like your high standards leave you exhausted instead of empowered?

In this powerful episode, John R. Miles sits down with psychotherapist and bestselling author Katherine Morgan Schafler to explore a whole new way of thinking about perfectionism. Spoiler: It’s not the enemy.

Katherine flips the script on what we’ve been taught to believe. Perfectionism, she says, isn’t a character flaw—it’s a misunderstood strength. One that, when acknowledged and reimagined, can fuel self-awareness, connection, and even peace.

Together, they unpack the five types of perfectionists—Classic, Intense, Parisian, Messy, and Procrastinator—and how identifying your type can open the door to greater resilience, more honest relationships, and a deeper sense of self-worth. This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever wrestled with feeling not good enough, not done enough, or not enough, period.

Katherine also shares insights on: