Realize that being a perfectionist isn’t a virtue

I had two goals which were very similar—what’s up with that?!*

“Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make yourself a happier and more productive person.”
—Dr. David Burns

I have achieved this goal .. I realise this only today as I refect on my past year and my actions this year… I have gotten over being a perfectionist ..and just enjoy the fact that i did a task and it was to my liking :-D

Definitely always a progression, but I really feel I have a handle on this for once.

maybe I’ll manage to realize it some day)

Part of the problem with perfectionism is that it creates too wide of a chasm between the life you have and the life you think you should have. In a sense I have accomplished this goal as written; I no longer believe perfectionism to be a virtue. The challenge now lies in dismantling the perfectionist tendencies that I have relied on for so long.

getting better at this…

My fear of failure has, in the past, kept me from trying new things sometimes. HOWEVER, I just worked at an overnight camp for 2 weeks, and campers love their bunk leaders/coaches no matter what! It’s a serious ego boost. I spent the week telling them not to be afraid of failure, that multiple trial and error is not a sign of a bad idea, and that they’re all awesome. And I think I finally started listening to my own advice.

If you think you won’t do something 100% right the first time, you won’t even try it. If for some reason you try it and you don’t get it right the first time, you give up and beat yourself up for not being perfect.

Where’s the scope in that?

I do believe that I’ve come to a point where I no longer wear my perfectionism as a badge of honor; I’m beginning to see it for what it is (a destructive habit) and am motivated to change. I’m realizing that I too deserve to be the recipient of the level of care and understanding I extend to others.

I’ll never stop making mistakes. And that’s ok;) Insisting on “having it all together” is both futile and limiting. I hope to gain some freedom from relinquishing this old safety blanket.