The Problem With Perfectionism: How to Embrace Imperfection

Perfectionism—the tendency to demand flawlessness from yourself or others—was once thought to be a positive quality. Perfectionists tend to be highly motivated and ambitious, and thanks to their close attention to detail and their willingness to work long hours, they often excel at school and in the workplace.

However, perfectionism also has a downside. In some cases, perfectionists can be overly critical, taking an all-or-nothing mindset and failing to accept anything that doesn’t meet their (sometimes unattainable) standards, no matter how much time and effort went into the work. Perfectionists also tend to base their own self-worth on their performance abilities, which can be damaging if they don’t deliver perfect results. There is no perfect body, no perfect job and no perfect partner. In fact, studies have shown that perfectionists often experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, and are more likely to become burned out.

Tips for Embracing Imperfection

Perfectionism can be difficult to overcome, but it’s possible to do so. Here are some tips for how to manage perfectionist tendencies:

• Set more realistic goals.
• Reduce how much effort you’re putting into tasks and pay attention to whether anyone notices any difference in the results.
• Try to think of mistakes as learning opportunities.
• Be curious about your inner monolog/ self talk; is it kind, compassionate and motivating? or Harsh?
• Research suggests behavior that is reinforced is more apt to reoccur; Do you pat yourself on the back for a job well done? Or do you berate yourself when a task does not end the way you hope/
• Recognize when you begin to think like a perfectionist, and then challenge those thoughts.
• If seeing pictures and videos of people leading seemingly perfect lives triggers you, remind yourself that their posts are likely curated (and if that still doesn’t work, try taking a break from social media altogether).

For More Information

Do you suspect that you might be a perfectionist? If so, I invite you to schedule an appointment to explore this matter. Having experience with treating patients who struggle with perfectionism, I can supply you with personalized help that will help you embrace imperfection and improve your quality of life. Contact my office today to get started.