Why not put things in perspective?

So far in this series of emails on perfectionism, we’ve shared tips on how to?embrace imperfection?by?avoiding over-preparation,?ending BD procrastination, and?being more forgiving. In this final email on the subject, we’ll be looking at putting things in perspective to build resilience.

Perfectionists are prone to catastrophic thinking:?“if this presentation doesn’t go smoothly the client will think I’m incompetent. I need to produce perfect work or my colleagues won’t respect me”.

Always fixating on a worst-case scenario quickly gets exhausting. It’s not surprising that perfectionists are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, and burnout.

The constant fear of failure also?hampers creativity?by making perfectionists less flexible and open-minded. They’re hesitant to suggest original ideas if there’s a slight doubt these might not work out in the long run. In contrast, non-perfectionists accept failure as a growth opportunity and are more resilient.

The next time you’re worrying about a slip-up in a client meeting or a typo in an email, try asking yourself:?will it matter in a week, a month, or a year from now??This simple question helps reframe blunders so they seem less like the end of the world!

When you can put mistakes in perspective, you’ll be more willing to try creative new approaches – and lead a happier professional life too.

“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavour.”?– Truman Capote