Is It Possible to Overcome Perfectionism?

Many people are surprised to hear that the idea of perfection doesn't really exist. It's a construct that society has created, and true perfection is hard to achieve. The idea of perfect often sees us striving for unattainable standards and being highly critical of ourselves when we don't meet those standards. It roots our mindset into a cycle of failure and rejection. Which, in turn, will cause us to have high levels of anxiety.

Perfectionism is something that many of us struggle with it. We often see individuals in careers or those who are considered to be highly-successful struggle the most with it. While dealing with perfectionism is challenging, that doesn't mean it can't be overcome.

What Are Signs of Perfectionism?

The first step in overcoming perfectionism is to recognize it. Do you find yourself obsessing over small details? Are you constantly seeking approval or validation for your work? Do you procrastinate out of fear of not meeting expectations? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be dealing with perfectionism.

How to Overcome Perfectionism

Challenge Your Inner Critic

Perfectionism thrives on the inner critic—the voice in your head that tells you nothing you do is ever good enough. Challenge that voice. When you are overly critical, ask yourself if your standards are realistic. Would you hold someone else to the same standards you hold yourself to?

Challenging your inner critic by asking yourself, "What evidence do I have that this will happen? Why am I of the mindset that I am doomed to fail or that I will mess up?"

Set Realistic Goals

Instead of aiming for perfection, strive for progress. Set realistic, achievable goals for yourself and celebrate your successes. Break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones, and focus on making incremental improvements. While it's important to understand the bigger picture, that often leads us to be stuck in a state of paralysis as we feel overwhelmed by the overall project. Breaking it up into smaller pieces will, ultimately, help you reach smaller milestones while working toward the overall goal.

Embrace Failure

Failure is not the end of the world; it's an opportunity to learn and grow. Instead of fearing failure, embrace it as a natural learning process. Understand that setbacks are inevitable, but they don't define your worth or abilities. If you never make mistakes in life, and everything always would be perfect, you will never grow as a person.

Remember that mistakes are not a sign that you, as a person, are a failure. Instead, it's a sign that there are areas that could be improved to do better next time. Mistakes are inevitable, so it's time to embrace that idea.

Seek Support

You don't have to overcome perfectionism alone. Reach out to friends, family, or a therapist for support. Share your struggles and feelings of inadequacy; they've experienced similar challenges themselves. Surround yourself with people who encourage and uplift you.

Perfectionism is a tough nut to crack, but it is possible to overcome it with patience, self-awareness, and a little self-compassion. Remember, progress is more important than perfection. So, take a deep breath, let go of the need to be perfect, and embrace the beautiful messiness of life.

If the idea of perfect is ruining your mental health, you aren't alone. We are living in a fast-paced society that values success more than anything. While you should want to be successful, that should never come at the cost of your mental health and well-being.

Don't hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about anxiety treatment for perfectionism.