The Distracting and Disturbing Habit of Trying to Achieve So-Called “Perfectionism”

“Perfectionism Rarely Begets Perfection, Or Satisfaction – Only Disappointment.”

Ryan Holiday

Unless you are Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, chances are that you won’t be able to master perfectionism. Why is it that we go down this road? What you fail to realize is that perfectionism is something that can never be achieved. In fact, it is not something that you want! This “issue” can become a huge challenge in your life that will stop you from not just achieving your goals but also from getting started with them. While Sheldon does appear to know it all, he lacks the basic understanding of social cues. In the end, he’s just a character.

So, before you get stuck in the negative spiral of trying to be perfect, why not have a look at some of your distracting and disturbing habits that are pushing you towards this black hole. Following are five ways to be just you that will help you accomplish things without trying to aim too high and setting yourself up for disappointment:

When you aim for perfection, you usually end up doing something else that is far different from the vision you had in mind. This leads to frustration and then you leave whatever you are doing unfinished. This is not an excuse to make a half-hearted attempt but simply an understanding with yourself that you find it good enough. Find a balance and you won’t push yourself to improve it a “little bit more”.

Trying to aim for perfectionism is like setting yourself up for failure. Trying to make it better will not just lead to extreme stress for you but also hurt your loved ones. You might end relationships or destroy your career by running after something that does not exist.

Everyone makes mistakes and sometimes, it’s alright to admit defeat. It won’t make you a lesser man or woman! A famous saying is, “Try and try until you don’t succeed”. While this statement is true, you shouldn’t pressurize yourself if a certain task doesn’t go your way. There are hundreds of other ways to make something happen, so put your thinking cap on and try again.

The more you will compare yourself to someone, the more inferior you will feel if the results you achieve are not similar. There will always be people that are ahead of you but this doesn’t mean that you cannot create your own finishing line. So, compare yourself to yourself and look at what you have accomplished so far. Rejoice in the fact that you achieved so much in such a short time and without anyone’s help.

We all know how much of a stronghold media and society has on us. You cannot cut yourself from the world to avoid the voices but what you can do is lower them. By doing what seems right to you and that makes you happy, you will be able to lower the voices in your head. You will no longer care about what others think because you are content with yourself.

Perfectionism creeps up on you from the environment you live in. It reshapes what you see, hear and who you spend time with. The moment you will learn to quiet the voices will be the day you will realize that only your opinion matters.