I am not saying that you should stop being a perfectionist. If it does good to you, why not continue being one? You should stop being one if continuously does more harm than doing you good. Being a perfectionist can mean that you accept nothing but perfection. The outcome or result is either being perfect or failing. There isn’t a “pass” to begin with. The mentality you have knows no failure and that it only recognizes success.
There are 5 reasons perfectionism is harmful to you.
1. Being in constant state of stress
Don’t you find that by pleasing everyone and hoping for a perfect outcome leaves you constantly in a state of utter stress? It is where you feel that anything you do is not right and that creates stress. For example, when your boss assigns you to present a product, you go all out for it. Don’t get me wrong, I think trying your best to prepare for a presentation is essential but I fear that is not the preparation that makes you stress but the thought of getting the right responses that is detrimental. You can’t really accept criticism or opinions from others as when it really happens, you feel that you have failed them.
2. Finding it difficult to assign any tasks at hand
You don’t have the tendency to assign your tasks at hand to your colleagues even if you have too many tasks on despite knowing it’s impossible for you to cope up with so much. You believe that others may not be able to complete the tasks as you deemed it should be because you constantly finds it being out of your expectation. Everyone has different understanding on things; therefore, you tend to have the mindset that their approach is wrong whilst yours is always right.
3. Fear of risks
Risk and being rejected are two instances you can’t accept. They mean failure and you detest failure. You tend to create walls around you, hoping that you’ll never ever have to go through them. At the back of your mind, high risk always equals failure to you. You are scared to take risks; hence, you become timid and indirectly not taking that step out of your comfort zone to accomplish certain goals.
4. Being judgmental
You are never content or approving of people’s approach to handle or accomplish certain task because you believe your way will always be the best. Besides that, you tend to judge or criticize even before you realize the whole picture and that can be destructive. At work, when you have the tendency to judge your colleagues’ work, you will indirectly pull down his or her morale to continue working alongside with you; work productivity and team morale can be decreased overtime.
5. Struggle
You struggle in order to keep everyone pleased or happy with you or things that you do. You will continue seek for approval from your superior or even your peers. In addition, you will never be able to sit still and just enjoy for a moment because you feel that whatever you do is not perfect enough. When you struggle at times like this, you tend to fall and feel your lowest.
Keep in mind that the world doesn’t revolve around you. Always try your best, let loose for a little and trust your peers in doing the tasks alongside with you. Never have the mindset that you are perfect because guess what, nobody is. Once you be rid of the mentality of not being a perfectionist, you look beyond and become happier in every situation. You will look at outcomes and results in a different light as well; a more positive light.
