For some, restrictive eating is a short-lived stage that ricochets into a junk food rebellion. Others find their way back to the middle of the road. But for many, this so-called "healthy" way of eating can become a true obsession and, at its most extreme, an eating disorder known as orthorexia.

Do you dwell on small mistakes for hours, days, or even weeks after they occur? Are you crushed when someone points out a small flaw in your work? Have you ever spent four hours fine-tuning a task that could have been completed in 10 minutes?

Do you find that setting standards too high by trying to do things too perfectly is a source of stress for you? While doing your best is certainly a virtue, perfectionism -- that is, settling for nothing less than perfect -- has a major down side.

You are enough just as you are. Dare to be vulnerable, and laugh at the tender and amusing moments we all share in this undulating dance of our humanity.

Many of my patients are highly educated, leaders in their industries, and among the best and the brightest. They're also perfectionists, and this can be a real problem for them as it can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression, and often wreaks havoc on relationships.

Why would someone make the choice to be miserable? Because it is often a way of getting attention and of attempting to get someone else to be responsible for them. If this is what you want, here is a roadmap to make sure you accomplish your goal!

The perfect gift this Valentine's Day may just be imperfection -- deciding to not fear it, together. Vow to each other that you'll hang in differently with a fight.

Repeating the affirmation "progress, not perfection" will help you to create an attitudinal shift that will better equip you to accept your own limitations as well as those of your family members, friends, and coworkers.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if your hair wasn't perfect or if your spouse forgot to throw out the garbage. Focus on being happy. And you will be.

When we try to be perfect, we become disconnected to people, and most importantly ourselves. I would love to see more celebrities and people, get more real. Be who you are. Live simply. Stop the obsessive planning and precautions.

There is a tremendous difference between waiting for a 100 percent perfect moment, and making 100 percent of the opportunity given to you. That difference starts well before any opportunity comes along. It starts with you believing in yourself.

This idea of perfection -- no flaws, no issues, no problems -- seems to infiltrate all our lives at one time or another. And like the yearning for perfection in the workplace, we also yearn for perfection in other aspects of our lives.

January is not the problem. It's us. Well, our perfectionism, to be specific. Our all-or-none thinking frames our life so that if we're not succeeding every second, we're failing. Nobody wants that. But nobody can be that "perfect" person either.

Time to let go because if I don't I'll lose myself in the process. I'm in danger of forgetting what the holidays and life are all about. What matters is doing the best we can to practice true loving kindness, a genuine desire to act in pursuit of the others' happiness.

This New Year's, let's draw needed attention to and appreciate the simplicity and significance of the weight of words. Let's gain control over our emotional waistlines and reflect on the words and sayings that weigh us down and lift us up.

I believe that perfection is actually an illusion that we created and is based on the fear that we would no longer evolve as humans if something wasn't pushing us to be better. But what if evolution were to come from our desire to learn and grow instead of to get ahead?

With holiday tasks to accomplish, work projects to be finished, and family obligations to be met, realize that something has got to give. Perhaps it's time for it to be your perfectionism.

When we achieve a balance on the outside with our schedules, we can make time and room to strive for an internal balance with kind self-talk, and to learn how to be more relaxed, accepting, content, and present.