I will fully admit that I am a recovering perfectionist and as such, I have learned there are some very valid reasons to stop trying to be perfect. Being a perfectionist is not the best personality trait that you can have. For a long time, I thought it was a good thing but my thoughts on that are beginning to change. Let’s explore some good reasons to stop trying to be perfect.
One of the best reasons to stop trying to be perfect is that you will never reach that standard. Perfection is unattainable. You will spend so much of your life trying to be perfect but it simply isn’t possible. It isn’t very healthy to work toward something that is always going to be unattainable. You will end up being frustrated and aggravated most of the time.
Trying to be perfect makes you miserable. You are rushing after something that you are more than likely never going to catch. This adds a tremendous amount of stress to the normal daily stress everyone has. Even if you do end up doing something that hits your standards, it is temporary and no one is going to appreciate it the way you wish that they would. Additionally, not only are you not going to be able to meet your own standards but others won’t measure up either.
A perfectionist is not usually a fun person to be around. They are generally so focused on being perfect that they don’t have time to enjoy the lighthearted side of life. How do I know this? I have been there and done that. You can’t be fun to be around because you don’t feel fun. When your mind is focused on a never ending to do list, you don’t make the best company.
Another thing I have learned about being a perfectionist is that you are rarely ever satisfied. You are always thinking on what you can do better next time. You always want to top yourself and improve upon the standard you have set. There can also be a competitive element when you deal with perfectionism. This can make you feel like you need to improve yourself to the next level above what you have already attained.
Perfectionism is unhealthy in so many ways. Another one of those ways is that you become pessimistic. You begin looking at what you have done and instantly think about how you could have done a better job. You don’t take the time to celebrate what you have accomplished. You put yourself and your accomplishments down.
Is it any surprise that being a perfectionist isn’t a lot of fun? I can attest to that. You are constantly stressing yourself out by trying to do better than possible. You keep yourself on a high level of stress at all times and don’t give yourself a lot of fun downtime. Dropping such high standards can allow you to have more fun in your life.
Trying to be perfect does not gain you any friends. And why would it? If you are so overly focused on attaining an unattainable standard, you don’t have time for fun. You don’t have a lot of time for friends, either, which is something that we all need in our lives. Giving up on perfectionism can be better for your mental health and for you overall.
I have decided that perfectionism isn’t all that it is cracked up to be. Have you struggled with perfectionism? How did you give it up?