By Lindsay Sealey *First published in HuffPost Canada on October 26, 2017 Girls today are pushing for perfection in all areas of their lives. Whether their goal is to attain the perfect smile, take the perfect selfie or perform perfectly at soccer, dance, martial arts — or possibly all of the above — girls are striving to excel, yet suffering when they can’t quite seem to reach that elusive destination called “perfect”. The moms whose daughters I work with often express deep concern about their little perfectionists, especially when they, themselves, struggle with perfectionism too. What’s perplexing about this trend is that this generation of girls has the most opportunities, choices, and potential than any other generation before them. It’s natural to assume that this expansive freedom of choice should lead to greater happiness, yet girls today seem to be unhappier with themselves than ever. But this paradox begins to make sense when we consider the impact of our fast-paced, hyper-stimulating culture and the role of social media, which has been proven to promote low self-worth and negative body image. We need to understand both the causes of perfectionism, and how to navigate it in a healthier way. What is…...