Culture & Lifestyle / How To Overcome Being A Perfectionist

How To Overcome Being A Perfectionist

Culture & Lifestyle May 16, 2014

by Yvonne Sinniah

Are you a perfectionist? Here's how to let go and be happier.

There was a time in my life when I thought achieving perfection was the path to happiness. That if I did just as my parents told me, achieved perfect grades, didn’t upset anyone and kept the house neat, then everything would be fine. The unfortunate truth about living this way is that you miss the beauty in the imperfections that life brings us, and sooner or later you struggle with daily challenges and the dynamics of close relationships.

I had convinced myself that I was truly happy with things in my life – until repeated and unforgiving migraines brought everything to a halt. For me it was a warning sign and triggered the end of an innate and unconscious need for perfectionism. If you feel like you’re struggling to keep up, take a moment to listen to yourself and your body. Here’s help for recovering from perfectionism in today’s fast-paced and highly demanding world.

Stay Open To The Possibilities Of Your Day Changing.

Perfectionists tend to set high expectations for every moment and usually have a set plan for the day so if something goes off-schedule, it triggers irritation, frustration, anger and feelings of failure. With an open mind that the changes in a day can bring about even better outcomes for your life, you begin to the see the beauty in “going with the flow”.

Don’t Be Concerned With The Opinions Of Others.

I realized that unless someone is genuinely helping you in life, then their opinions are irrelevant and if taken too seriously, it can lead to you feeling depressed. Trust that you are doing the best you can in life, because knowing your inner compass is what can be relied on when you look back at your own life journey.

Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful/ mylifepuzzle

Practice Compassion With Yourself.

Perfectionists are harder on themselves than others when they feel they haven’t met their goals. If you’re experiencing feelings of failure, start empathizing with yourself and realize that you are only human and that even when you do your best, mistakes happen. It’s a reality that goals don’t get achieved and relationships face obstacles, so the self-blame aspect can quickly go to an unhealthy state when you don’t balance it with compassion for yourself.

Begin Your Day With Gratitude.

There is a whole blog I could write about gratitude, but here is the reason why gratitude in all forms is beneficial to a recovering perfectionist: it changes the way you look at your life. You begin to see all the moments and relationships that are blessings. By focusing your energy on your blessings, you will always begin your day on a positive note and draw positivity right back at you.

Letting go of perfectionism takes daily practice. If you’re living with a perfectionist, try to have compassion and create a space of trust to talk about it when it shows up as a hindrance in your relationship.

_{Featured Image: oneshrinksperspective}

Yvonne Sinniah

Author

Yvonne Sinniah (@YvonneSinniah) is a Relations Advisor and inspirational speaker focusing on helping individuals achieve success in personal and professional environments. focusing on helping individuals achieve success in personal and professional environments. She is on a mission to meet a nee...

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