Anne Lamott once said: “perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. Therefore, before you try to prove to everyone else how perfect you are, remember that no human can be perfect. But this doesn’t mean that you should be cold and careless. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.”.
You just need to learn how to be good to the people you interact with every day without trying to prove how perfect you are. In this article, you will learn how to be good without trying to be perfect.
What is Perfectionism
Perfectionism is the need to be or look like you are perfect. It is also the belief that it is possible to be perfect. While this behavior is mainly viewed as a positive attribute, it can hurt your social life, especially when it is allowed to get to toxic levels. Unfortunately, it is possible to be a perfectionist without your knowledge. Therefore, you need to be aware of the signs of perfectionism so that you can put yourself in check.
Signs of Perfectionism
Perfectionism can happen in different aspects of life. So, even if you are not a full-time perfectionist, you might find yourself practicing it in certain situations. Here are some of the common signs of perfectionism:
- Inability to perform certain tasks unless you are sure you can do them perfectly
- Consider the end product as the most significant part of any task, thus focusing less on the process of learning or completing the task to the best of your ability.
- You don’t view tasks as finished until the result is perfect according to your standards
- Taking an excessive amount of time to perform a task that doesn’t typically require a long time to complete.
- Procrastinating
How to Overcome Perfectionism
First of all, it is important to mention that there is a big difference between a high-achiever and a perfectionist. While high-achievers strive to succeed, perfectionists are motivated by fear and paralyzed by the idea of failure. So, if you want to overcome perfectionism, you need to understand your motivations and fears. You also need to understand your perfectionist thoughts and tendencies.
Once you identify when and how you behave as a perfectionist, you need to take hold of yourself by controlling your thought pattern and actions. You should also focus on the positive aspects of your life and allow yourself to make mistakes sometimes. Last but not least, set more reasonable goals for yourself. For more information on perfectionism, talk to Redeem Wellness today.
