Being Perfect May Just Kill You Perfectionism can be a silent assassin, especially for women striving to balance multiple roles. Here’s what can happen: 1. The constant pressure to be perfect can lead to anxiety and depression. 2. Feeling like a fraud despite amazing accomplishments. 3. High expectations creep across all facets of life and can create tension with loved ones. 4. Fear of imperfection stifles your creativity. 5. Chasing perfection like a mad woman will be like burning both ends of a candle 6. Linking self-esteem to what you achieve rather than who you are 7. Avoiding risks because of the fear of imperfection means you miss out on opportunities 8. You do not want to be seen as anything other than perfect, so you hide away or withdraw to maintain a flawless image. 9. Stress-related health issues like headaches or insomnia, joint pain, or eventually more serious chronic disease 10. Stifling your growth by focusing on flaws rather than learning and growth. You want Progress You do not need perfection.
Great examples of how perfectionism shows up Joy. A key reflection that helped me was understanding where I was trying to be perfect and then getting curious when it showed up. When I hesitated to take on something new I asked myself why and realised it was because I didn't think I'd do it "well" (my codeword for perfect).
Striving for perfection - creates opportunity to give yourself a good beating when perfect doesn't arrive. Go easier on yourself - your headspace will thank you for it. Any 'mistakes' you will learn from (and they won't be as bad to others as they seem to you anyway!).
Often striving for perfection is a sign of procrastination and sabotage
Small repeatable habits, with systems of accountability!
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4moI’ve recently learnt that ‘be perfect’ has been my driver for as long as I can remember. It’s sometimes helpful but more often it’s not. I’m now working on acknowledging when it shows up, but not letting it rule🤞