The Relief of Imperfection: For Women Who Try Too Hard to Make It All Just Right [Paperback]

Joan C. Webb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2008

“Dear Lord, I pray that all limitations, weaknesses, defects, pain, hurt, mistakes, embarrassment, and imperfection in my personal and public life, relationships and circumstances be eliminated.” This book is for any woman who has ever prayed this prayer or for the one who has even thought it. Joan Webb, a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist, knows how hard it is for determined and caring women to step into the relief of imperfection. And yet, this is exactly what God wants for us. The Relief of Imperfection encourages the reader to believe the truth about God, others, herself and her reality, thus eventually releasing her from the pursuit of perfection to relax in the relief of imperfection. Webb provides real-life stories, including how Jesus lived in the midst of imperfect surroundings, to show that it is OK with God to cease trying to appear perfect and have all the right answers all the time. Readers will find permission to stop pretending and start enjoying authentic, intimate relationships with others, with themselves and with God.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

“Dear Lord, I pray that all limitations, weaknesses, defects, pain, hurt, mistakes, embarrassment, and imperfection in my personal and public life, relationships and circumstances be eliminated.”  If you have ever prayed this prayer or even thought it, this book is for you. Joan Webb, a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist, knows how hard it is for determined and caring women to step into the relief of imperfection. And yet, this is exactly what God wants for you. The Relief of Imperfection encourages you to believe the truth about God, others, yourself and your reality, thus eventually releasing you from the pursuit of perfection to relax in the relief of imperfection. Webb provides real-life stories, including how Jesus lived in the midst of imperfect surroundings, to show that it is OK with God to cease trying to appear perfect and have all the right answers all the time. Here’s how to stop pretending and start enjoying authentic, intimate relationships with others, with yourself and with God.

About the Author

JOAN C. WEBB is a recovering workaholic and perfectionist who communicates a message of freedom and renewal. A former pastor’s wife, Joan is a personal life coach and teacher, helping others to become who God has gifted them to be. She speaks nationally and internationally and has appeared on Christian radio and television. Joan is the author or coauthor of magazine articles, curriculum and eight books, including Meditations for Christians Who Try to Be Perfect. She lives with her husband Richard in Chandler, Arizona near their two married adult children and five grandchildren.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Regal (January 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830744819
• ISBN-13: 978-0830744817
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #972,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joan C. Webb, a recovering workaholic and burnout victim, communicates a message of freedom and renewal. Joan has authored more than ten books including The Relief of Imperfection: For Women Who Try Too Hard to Make It Just Right and It's a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life, The Intentional Woman: A Guide to Experiencing the Power of Your Story (with Carol Travilla), a four-book series titled Devotions for Little Boys and Girls, and Meditations for Christians Who Try to Be Perfect. She wrote study notes for four Old Testament books in Zondervan's Women of Faith Study Bible and devotions for the Women's Devotional Bible 2.

As a Personal Life Coach and Intentional Woman Life Plan facilitator, Joan has accumulated hundreds of hours coaching and helping set people free to become who God gifted them to be and from what holds them back. Joan's practical and interactive presentations include stories from her background in business, ministry, and travel to the Middle East doing relief/development work. Joan and her husband, Richard, enjoy living in the sunshine in Chandler, Arizona near their daughter and son, their spouses, and their seven energetic grandchildren (three boys and four girls.)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Relief of Imperfection, January 2, 2008

By 

Christina Henningson "Tina Henningson" (Coto de Caza, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Relief of Imperfection: For Women Who Try Too Hard to Make It All Just Right (Paperback)

Joan Webb really nailed it with this book! As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, I find it difficult to experience joy when I'm trying to control everything around me. Instead, it produces anxiety. And as Joan points out, its cause is often unreasonable expectations that are often self imposed. With Joan's permission...and blessing...she encourages the reader to breathe deeply...exhale...and not try so hard to make everything just right. She gives practical advice that can be put into immediate practice and challenges the reader at the end of each chapter with "relief guides" that provide helpful exercises and awareness tools. This is a must read for every woman who desires to have peace and joy in her life!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relief of Imperfection, February 15, 2008

By 

S. Washburn - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Relief of Imperfection: For Women Who Try Too Hard to Make It All Just Right (Paperback)

Joan Webb provides women with a door to freedom in her profound book The Relief of Imperfection. In her book, Webb recognizes that most Christian women try to make everything perfect around them in the hopes of pleasing God. Too often, this desire leads them to a self destructive pattern of perfectionism. The Relief of Imperfection gives real, tangible and attainable steps to set women free from this cycle.

Each section provides a relief guide that aids the reader as they begin to let go of unhealthy expectations. In one chapter, Joan has a chart that shows the difference between doing things in life with excellence verses perfection. This chart is one that should be put up on the mirror of every woman who believes she needs to be perfect to please God, her family, her co-workers, and her friends.

The Relief of Imperfection will help set women free from the bondage that comes from trying to be perfect.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shoulders relax, January 21, 2008

By 

Suzanne Theobald (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Relief of Imperfection: For Women Who Try Too Hard to Make It All Just Right (Paperback)

Joan C. Webb's book helps readers find relief in "being human" instead of drowning in the stress of trying to be and do everything perfectly. The topics cover areas that we don't even readily admit to being perfectionistic about- like emotions, spirituality, relationships and dreams. The detailed chart comparing and contrasting excellence vs. perfectionism is extremely insightful. I appreciated the real-life stories, the Scriptural examples and the quotes from other authors illustrating how to move toward freedom from our stronghold of having to do it all just right. Readers will feel their shoulders relax in God's love and truth throughout this book.