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What are the dangers of being overly perfectionist?
What are the dangers with being overly perfectionist? Thanks for asking. Perfectionism is the tendency to set excessively high and unrealistic standards for oneself and others, and to evaluate one's worth based on the ability to meet those standards. Perfectionists are not satisfied with anything less than flawless results, and they often fear failure, criticism or disappointment.
But constantly striving for perfection can have serious consequences. How does perfectionism affect your productivity? You might think that being a perfectionist would make you more productive, but the opposite is true.
If you're always aiming for flawless results, you tend to spend more time on tasks than necessary, or even avoid starting them altogether for fear of failure, meaning you end up procrastinating and delaying. A good example is given here by Dr. Andrea Brandt in Psychology Today.
I'd like to write a novel is a fantastic goal, whereas I must finish a novel by the end of the year is a perfectionist goal. Perfectionists also have trouble delegating or collaborating with others because they don't trust people to meet their high expectations. This can lead to missed deadlines, wasted resources and poor performance. How does perfectionism impact you?
When you base your self-worth on your achievements, you become more sensitive to criticism, rejection and feedback. You also tend to compare yourself to others and this can lead to feeling inferior or envious of others' achievements and consequently damage your self-esteem and your mental health.
Perfectionists also have difficulty coping with setbacks or failures because they see them as personal flaws rather than learning opportunities. How does perfectionism impact your relationships? When you expect yourself and others to be perfect, you tend to be judgmental, critical and demanding.
It can also get in the way of living in the present because you're always looking for flaws or areas of improvement, robbing you of happiness, gratitude and fulfilment. How can you cope with perfectionism? Perfectionism can cause a lot of stress, but there are ways to cope. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them and celebrate your efforts and progress.
Remember that nobody is perfect and that mistakes are valuable and normal. Set reasonable and flexible goals and instead of aiming for perfection, aim for improvement.
Also, try lowering the pressure you put on yourself and others and be more compassionate and supportive. Use positive self-talk and affirmations, such as, I'm doing my best, I'm proud of myself, or I'm enough.
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