Are you someone who is driven to be perfect?
When was the last time you found yourself worried about making mistakes or not doing a good enough job?
Maybe when you were assigned a new project at work?
Perhaps, after you gave a presentation for a team of colleagues?
Or when you made a pitch to your boss for a promotion?
If you hold impossibly high standards, you may have fallen into a trap:
The Trap of PERFECTIONISM
The American Psychological Association defines perfectionism as “The tendency to demand of others or of oneself an extremely high or even flawless level of performance, in excess of what is required by the situation.”
Society places a tremendous amount of value on success and high achievement. It is easy to understand how savvy people can fall prey to this trap and the desire to be perfect.
The problem is that there is no such thing as perfect. It is a myth. It does not exist.
And if you fall into the perfectionism trap you will end up feeling inadequate, not smart enough or good enough.
So, what standards do you set for yourself?
Having high standards is a good thing. However, holding unrealistically high standards is not.
Outstanding people set high goals for themselves and work hard to achieve those goals. They put in their best effort and work towards greatness.
On the other hand, perfectionists expect greatness at all times. Anything less than perfect is viewed as a failure.
Two Reasons Perfectionism is a Destructive Trait:
1. It Erodes Your Confidence Level
Perfectionism slowly chips away at your confidence level. This colors the lense through which you see yourself and distorts the image (your truth) of who you are and what you are capable of achieving.
When you hold a perfectionistic mindset you are likely to feel bad about yourself and very often have thoughts that you do not measure up.
You may second guess what you want out of life and the decisions you want to make for yourself.
Perfectionism can hold you back from reaching your full potential.
2. It Creates Unnecessary Stress
Perfectionism adds fuel to the fire. This may lead to excessive stress.
Research shows that (if left unchecked) it can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
Trying to be perfect is never the answer. Especially when it comes to your health and well-being.
How would your day be different if you were able to worry less and achieve more?
There is a better way.
Strive for Excellence
Make a MindShift. Change your perspective.
Focus on holding yourself accountable to high standards that are realistic. Go for outstanding!
Striving for excellence is a mindset that is EMPOWERING and OBTAINABLE.
It is possible to become outstanding. However, you will need to do one thing along the way.
Learn from your mistakes
Expecting to never make mistakes is crazy making! Human beings make mistakes.
The trick is applying what you learn from your mistakes and making course corrections (improvements) along the way.
This MindShift gives you power to go for your goals.
It helps you build courage, take risks, and overcome obstacles that get in your way.
Free Yourself
Free yourself from the confines of perfectionism and embrace that you are perfectly imperfect just the way you are!
Take the pressure off of yourself.
Strive to be OUTSTANDING and view mistakes as an opportunity for growth and learning.
Dale Carnegie said it well “The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way.”
Choose to charge forward towards your goals by being be the best version of yourself and let all the rest go.
