Perfectionism

Perfectionism can be mistaken as being perfect. Perfectionism involves putting pressure on ourselves to meet high standards which influences the way we think about ourselves. Some elements of perfectionism are helpful, and some are unhelpful.

Perfectionism involves striving for extremely high standards for yourself and others. Perfectionism can involve judging your self-worth based on your ability to achieve. There is a difference between healthy and unhealthy striving for perfection.

It can also involve experiencing procrastination and negative consequences of setting demanding standards for yourself. Having goals helps you achieve things in life. However when these goals are either unachievable or achievable at great cost, is when perfectionism can be problematic.

Can you answer yes to some of these statement?

• I must do things perfect the first time
• If I can’t do something perfectly then there is no point even starting
• There’s always something more I could better
• Sometimes I spend a lot of time trying to complete task perfectly and I don’t have time to complete the rest of my work
• I procrastinate commencing my work

If you have answered yes to most of the above statements then perfectionism might be something you want to work on.