In a world of constant praises of perfectionism and the unreal lifestyles of the celebrities and elites, the pursuit of trying to be perfect can be a inescapable trap. While being perfect may seem to be a worthy aspiration, it can lead to stress, anxiety and a core belief in unobtainable goals. Embracing imperfections may not seem like a great pursuit but it is a pathway to genuin joy and fullfillment.
Lets explore the detrimental effects of perfectiosnism and the useful effects of embracing imperfection.
The signs that you are a perfectionist
All or nothing mindset:
Perfectionists see’s the world in black and white. Either you do something absolutely well or you fail. This is a common trait found in perfectionists. They refuse to understand the undermining value of failure.
Fear of failure:
Perfectionists are always afraid of failing. Even at the simplest tasks they overcomplicate things which makes it even more difficult to obtain success. This leads to procrastination and missing out on opportunities.
Unable to cooperate with a team:
Perfectionists always suffer from the inability to work with a collaborative effort. They rather work alone than with people who are sub par to his standards. This leads to difficulties in different sectors of life where team effort is needed.
Procrastination
This may seem like an odd entry but perfectionists prefer to delay a work for later when they are certain to do it properly. This piles up the workload and at the end they are unable to do anything at all. This halts the growth of his potential and causes other self confidence issues.
How to overcome Perfectionism
1. Being mindful about it:
The first way to get ahead of the perfectionism mindset is to address the fact and become aware of your perfectionism patterns. Journaling helps a lot for this. Writing down all the things that irritate you or all the things that make you feel satisfied will be an easy way to understand and embrace yourself better.
2. Try to challenge your perfectionist ideas with facts:
Perfectionist thoughts often involve feelings of inadequacy and not being good enough. It is essential to challenge these thoughts with facts. Create a two-column list, detailing evidence that supports and contradicts your perfectionist ideas. By objectively evaluating the evidence, you can gain a more realistic perspective and reduce the grip of perfectionism.
3. Embrace making mistakes as a way for growth:
One of the best ways of overcoming perfectionism is learning to embrace mistakes. Rather than viewing failure as a reflection of your worth, see it as an opportunity for learning, growth, and improvement. By allowing yourself to make mistakes, you can develop resilience, adaptability, and a healthier relationship with imperfection.
4. Don’t obsess yourself with celebrities on the internet:
These days we tend to follow internet celebrities, influencers, actors a little too much than we should give them credit for. This tends to make us follow their unrealistic lifestyles which influence our perfectionist behaviors. Being a fan and being obsessed with everything about a person is very different. Trying to understand and learn from them is what makes it worth it to “Follow” others.
5. Focus on “ends” than “means”:
By focusing more on ends you can do your job properly as well as learn whatever it is you are capable of. A perfectionist focuses too much on means which hampers their way to assess the final results.
6. Reward Yourself:
Perfectionists tend to downplay their successes and focus on their shortcomings. It is essential to recognise and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Practice self-appreciation and acknowledge your efforts, progress, and growth. By cultivating a positive and self-affirming mindset, you can boost self-esteem and motivation.
Conclusion:
Understanding the shortcomings and moving forward with newer and a fresh mindset is the way to success. Overcoming perfectionism is a journey that requires self-reflection, self-compassion, and a willingness to embrace imperfection. By gaining awareness of perfectionist tendencies you can’t break free from the constraints of perfectionism and thrive.
What do you think about the issues with perfectionism? Let us know in the comments.
