Overcoming Perfectionism: Why Perfectionism Is Just Another Form of Fear

Perfectionism is just fear in fancy shoes and a mink coat, pretending to be elegant when actually it's just terrified. Because underneath that shiny veneer, perfectionism is nothing more than a deep existential angst that says, “I am not good enough and I will never be good enough”, Elizabeth Gilbert beautifully said.

Perfectionism is simply just a fear of failure which stops us from completing our work and, even worse, it often stops us from beginning our work or finally going after our dreams. Perfectionists often decide in advance that the end product is never going to be satisfactory, so they don't even bother starting in the first place.

Perfectionism kills our dreams and it's what separates the winners from wannabees in almost every area of life. They live by “go for progress, not perfection” mantra. And don’t get me wrong I am not saying that you should lower your standards, you should always put your best efforts to everything you do but it’s important to identify the difference between a growth orientated mindset and manifestation of procrastination and fear.

So how to stop being a perfectionist?

1. Identify your fear

Be specific with yourself about what you fear. Not only can that insight clarify exactly what you are afraid of, but it also gives some clues about how to begin tackling your fear.

2. Appreciate the journey

Divide your attention between both journey and the results, and appreciate both aspects.

3. Stop comparing yourself

It’s time to take the power away from everyone else and create your own version of perfect.

4. Gain perspective

Ask yourself, “What’s the worst can happen”? You’ll see that the worst case scenario is a scary as you thought.

5. Think of mistakes as lessons.

Allow yourself to make mistakes and give yourself the opportunity to learn and grow.

Like any change, taming perfectionist tendencies requires self-examination and trust. It also demands that you don’t take yourself too seriously or beat yourself up if you meet a stretch in the road without forward motion. Care for yourself in the process, and know that the only person stopping you from adopting admiral behaviour is you.