Would you describe yourself as a perfectionist? Today, I would say that I am a recovering one. I am not sure if it is anything I will ever completely be free of, but I like to think that my perfectionist tendencies have decreased and continue to do so. And, while there are those who might think perfectionism is something to strive for, I am posting today about how dangerous I think perfectionism can be for your wellness.
To start off, what does it mean to be “perfect” anyway? Who decides? You? The people in your life? That is already a check mark against perfectionism – if everyone thinks it means something different it might be hard to attain.
Next, perfectionism can take up a lot of time and decrease productivity and efficiency. If you are paying attention to every little detail and making it “perfect” in your mind, how do you ever get anything done? Also, what else are you missing out on when you work on making something perfect?
Then, how does this process make you feel? Do you get a sense of accomplishment? Or, does it never seem good enough?
Lastly, if everything is perfect, do you learn anything from it? A lot of times the greatest learning comes from mistakes we make along the way – not that we shouldn’t do our best, but there is a line between completing a task and trying to make it perfect.
Overall, to me it seems that perfectionism has many down sides, and I hope the questions above have you thinking that perfectionism is not the answer. Give your best with what you have, but let go of that perfectionist ideal. In reality, life is messy, and it is certainly not perfect for anyone. Spend your time working on a life that is meaningful, messy, and real instead of one that is “perfect” in your mind.