Perfectionism is a very difficult standard to constantly strive for. It demands persistence, detail, organization and constant achievement at a high level. It can become a problem when exceedingly high standards are not only set for yourself but also for those around you.
The result is stress and anxiety especially when you are constantly attempting to project and maintain an image of perfection.
I know because it has plagued me my whole life and still rears its ugly head from time to time. As time goes on I am constantly improving and I am slowly beginning to accept that nothing is perfect. The ideal of perfection can only bring about frustration and is not motivating at all. So how to guard against it?
Truly conquering perfectionism requires a complete overhaul of how you view yourself and others and a real look at what being a perfectionist actually costs you. Here are some tips to break the cycle of perfectionism:
- Stop trying to compete with and outdo others-each person is on their own path.
- Reevaluate your daily expectations- Are they realistic?
- Stop all or nothing thinking-Life is not black and white.
- Learn from past mistakes and outcomes.
- Recognize it’s ok to be vulnerable -everyone has ups and downs and bad days sometimes.
Remind yourself its ok not to be perfect. It is through our imperfections and mistakes that we improve and become empowered to be the best we can be and achieve our true potential. Human beings are essentially flawed and the best we can achieve is to strive for excellence rather than perfection. This is where true transformation occurs.
You’ll never be perfect but you’ll always be unique.
This Mantra is by Vince Lombardi:
“Perfection is not attainable but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence”