How to overcome perfectionism?

We all have come across many perfectionists, and if you are reading this, you may be a perfectionist too. It may seem like a healthy trait because Perfectionism is the reason for so much top-quality work. But at the same time, perfectionists suffer the most because Perfectionism ruins productivity. “How to overcome perfectionism?” this question is asked by many perfectionists because it gives them undue stress and slows them down. As a result, Perfectionism is frequently associated with anxiety. Also, Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. We may see excellent work in the end, but growth is gradual.

To overcome Perfectionism, you must start focusing on the present moment, practice mindfulness, talk to yourself with kindness, and confront your negative judgments. It is essential to understand that even if something is imperfect, it can still be worthwhile.

There are two categories of perfectionists: material perfectionists and existential perfectionists. Material perfectionism is when most people refer to perfection in terms of material possessions. Material perfectionists are obsessed with details. The other type of Perfectionism is existential Perfectionism, which is more concerned with emotions and non-materialistic things. 

It has something to do with the perfectionist assessments. This idealistic quest for perfection will be referred to as existential Perfectionism. Perfectionists aim for moral, intellectual, or spiritual perfection in this way. You can also say it is moral Perfectionism. Moral Perfectionism also affects your life.

Causes of Perfectionism

Internal pressures, such as the desire to avoid failure or harsh criticism, are the leading causes of Perfectionism. Because perfectionistic impulses have significantly increased among young people over the past 30 years, regardless of gender or country, there is probably also a social component to it. 

Increased battles in academia and the workforce, the widespread use of social media, and the damaging social comparisons it fosters are all contributing factors. Naturally, perfection is an idealized concept impossible in the real world. The pursuit of perfection can be damaging if it is overdone. 

It can lead to laziness, a tendency to avoid issues, strict all-or-nothing thinking, unfavorable comparisons, and a lack of creativity. One of the leading causes of maladaptive Perfectionism is the fear of failure. Other typical factors include a sense of unworthiness, low self-esteem, and traumatic childhood events.

Depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, and even suicidal thoughts are frequently in conjunction. Perfectionism and anxiety are primarily co-related to each other. 

How to overcome Perfectionism?

• Accept yourself first

People who are committed to no unattainable flawless ideal can succeed at a high level by letting go of the comparison attitude. They can achieve this by focusing on the present moment, practicing mindfulness, talking to themselves with kindness, and confronting their negative judgments. It is essential to understand that even if something is imperfect, it can still be worthwhile.

• Create a line between healthy and unhealthy Perfectionism

Demanding perfection is not the same thing as aiming for excellence. Maladaptive perfectionists are rejected, whereas adaptive or positive perfectionists establish lofty goals, uphold high standards, and strive tirelessly for success. Adaptive perfectionists value challenge, growth, and practical problem-solving. Their tendency toward perfection is a strength, not a problem.

• Know your tendencies:

Being conscious of your perfectionism-related thoughts and behaviors is the first step towards conquering it. Pause for a moment and consider your perfectionism-related thought processes. You might even attempt to write these ideas down to understand them further. 

We will be better equipped to change the way we communicate to ourselves about this problem once we are aware of how Perfectionism takes control of our lives.

• Be positive 

Because we strive for perfection, we frequently focus on our efforts’ flaws or ourselves. It’s crucial, though, that we also try to recognize the positive aspects. Challenge yourself to think of three things for each thing you’re not entirely satisfied with. 

• Give space for mistakes. 

We can recognize that failure is not the end of the world when we permit ourselves to make mistakes. Making mistakes allows us to grow, learn, and improve. Getting involved in a new hobby that you probably won’t be good at right away is one approach to putting this into practice. 

Focus on enjoying the activity and gradually learning how to improve rather than attempting to be “perfect” at it. You could discover that making mistakes is required to reach your goals.

• Don’t take too much pressure.

Instead of concentrating on doing everything flawlessly, strive to discover significance in your actions. It doesn’t matter if something isn’t done correctly as long as it makes us happy and gives us meaning. Finding meaning along the way might lead to greater satisfaction.

Related Questions

How do I stop being a perfectionist?

Perfectionists are trapped in a never-ending circle. To begin, perfectionists establish unattainable expectations. They then fail to accomplish these objectives. Failure is unavoidable as a result of unattainable aims. Furthermore, the persistent pressure to reach perfection and the unavoidable, chronic failure limit productivity and effectiveness. 

This loop causes perfectionists to be self-critical and blame themselves, resulting in reduced self-esteem. Anxiety and sadness may also result. At this point, perfectionists may abandon their objectives entirely and create new ones, believing that “this time, if I only strive harder, I will achieve.” This type of thinking restarts the entire cycle. So, to be free of Perfectionism, you must first stop this pattern.

What causes Perfectionism in a person?

Perfectionism begins with rejecting oneself and imagining an ideal version of oneself, which one wants to attain via their efforts. So the underlying source of Perfectionism is rejecting your genuine self. Fear of criticism or condemnation from others might contribute to Perfectionism. 

Early childhood circumstances, such as parents with overly high expectations for their children, may also have a role. Unrealistic expectations lead to self-sabotage and disregard for your genuine self. People suffering from mental illnesses such as (OCD) may also display perfectionist tendencies.

What do Perfectionists fear?

They have a fear of failure and rejection. Perfectionists have some ideal images for things they want perfect. If they want themselves to be perfect, they would have an ideal image of themselves in their minds. They continuously want to achieve that point because they think people will reject them if they are not according to their ideal images. 

They have a fear of failure, and they don’t think mistakes are learning points. They have high expectations of themselves in materialistic and non-materialistic things.