How to tackle perfectionism?
It’s a trait some have and others are annoyed by. Are you a perfectionist in some way? All judgement aside, each one of us may have firm beliefs about “how certain things should be done”. However, we could all use self-reflection at times and make self-improvements; ‘cause I don’t know about you, but last time I checked, perfection doesn’t exist. So how can anyone realistically live up to a standard that one isn’t capable to achieve?! Can we learn from others that we may have overlooked because we thought they had lower stands, yet they seem to get more done?
Let’s explore this fascination with perfection…
“Imperfect action is better than perfect procrastination.”- Harry S. Truman
Striving for Perfection Excellence!
Being a recovering perfectionist myself, I know what it is like to fear taking action without knowing all the facts, or even experiencing dreadful feelings of “imposter syndrome”. However, the world is full of examples of people “figuring it out” and learning from their own mistakes. Most of the time, we are held back by irrational fears that will never happen, or even if they did happen, they don’t truly matter to most people in the grand scheme of things.
For example: The fear of rejection. Often we have such high standards that we measure ourselves in an irrational way. Suggestion: how about substituting the word “perfection” with “excellence”? We know perfection doesn’t exist. By intentionally acknowledging that, our mind shifts into thinking about what would be the standard of excellence in a given situation. Now we are considering realistic standards and accepting them as normal. That would be healthier way to think.
Keep it Simple!
Simplicity and happiness are keys to success, not perfection.
Reminding ourselves that depending on how much knowledge and experience we have on the matter, we want to adjust our expectations to an appropriate level. There are so many great examples of successful people who made it a priority to keep things simple and relatable for the average person. Bobbi Brown, the legendary Makeup Artist and Founder of 2 successful beauty brands, uncomplicated makeup for busy women and developed simple 5-minute looks. Steve Jobs famously wore the same turtleneck and jeans to work everyday to avoid decision fatigue and use his mental energy to create solutions for people through Apple. Farm-to-Table Chef Alice Waters focused on using just a few fresh ingredients to make a delicious meal, rather than relying on complex recipes recipes with exotic ingredients shipped from the other end of the world. It’s not to say that complex routines can’t be exciting. These individuals saw the value in using resources they already had were just as fantastic. Yes, appreciating the value of the “ordinary”, or rather seeing them as “perfect”. (How’s that for an ironic comment?)
Less is more, and it starts with focusing on the overall goal. Ask yourself these questions, “What is the end goal?”, “Regarding this project, what would make me happy?” Is your goal to have more time with your family or do more of the things you like? Do you want to eliminate the stress and declutter in your home or work space? Focusing on what would make you happy, is will reveal what doesn’t matter or what is a lower priority to you. What you want and don’t want will become more obvious. So keep it simple!
Ask for Help
Whether you have a nagging question or prefer having someone work beside you, asking for help is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Striving to live life, as if we were Superman or Mary Poppins, is setting ourselves up for overwhelm. Asking for help sensibly shows respect for your own time and efforts. Being kind to yourself means you relish in avoiding unnecessary stress and you do not measure your own self-worth against complicated, unrealistic goals. You acknowledge that comparing yourself to others is a loosing battle, devaluing your own ideas is another form of bullying, and finally PERFECTIONISM IS NOT A VERTUE, IT’S A VICE.
With that said, asking for help can be as simple as using A.I. (artificial intelligence) to answer your questions, asking for advice from a reputable Facebook group, or asking a friend, family member, or co-worker for help. We are social creatures and thrive off working together to accomplish a common goal. Sure, we are capable of doing things on our own, but we also appreciate how working with others can enrich our experiences and speed up the end results. We can learn a lot from others and even develop a new skill.
Creativity Reduces Stress | Stress Reduces Creativity
It’s that simple. Consider it a math formula for life. Harvard-trained sociologist, life coach Martha Beck shared this phenomena.
Harvard-trained expert Martha Beck says, “Creativity shuts down stress” in interview with Today.
So let creative thinking be a part of your process. I hope this helps us all appreciate that we don’t have to burden ourselves with unrealistic expectations and irrational fears. We all have so much good to give. Don’t hold yourself back from greatness. You can do it!
