Usually people talk about their tendency to perfectionism as an advantage, because they seek to achieve the ideal in everything. Employers also appreciate employees who always seek high standards. However, it is important to understand that perfectionism can be not only a positive feature but also a neurotic deviation, leading to a number of negative consequences. What are the causes of perfectionism and ways to overcome this phenomenon?
Who are perfectionists?
There is a saying that "there is no limit to perfection." Perfectionism is the belief that the ideal can be reached and must be achieved. Such people always seek the ideal in everything, setting high standards for appearance, home and professional activity. Being a perfectionist means to make overstated requirements for himself and others, to critically evaluate his own achievements and behavior. Perfectionists consider only extreme results as success, and all intermediate options are not acceptable for them.
Why is perfectionism?
The root of perfectionism can be found in childhood, especially among those who have often been evaluated and compared. As a child, this assessment can be the basis for believing that love and value can only be achieved by the ideal. This method of education, which was adopted as a child, can turn into a problem in adulthood, influencing self -esteem and harming personal development.
In adulthood, requirements for themselves and others can be an obstacle to learning and growth. This is especially noticeable in situations where there are no clear parameters to measure success and you need to learn from your own mistakes and experience. However, for a perfectionist, this can be a challenge, as he often assesses his value only because of the achievement of an irreconcilable ideal.
The negative effects of perfectionism
One of the main problems of perfectionism is the lack of faith in oneself. Perfectionists subconsciously understand that the ideal does not exist, but this awareness does not always help them change their requirements for themselves. As a result, they can be trapped by "Perfectionist Paralysis", when the fear of imperfection leads to no movement forward. This can lead to fatigue and inability to complete the task because of the lack of a perfect result.
Side effects of perfectionism at work
In work, perfectionism can lead to delaying terms, sabotage, high level of stress, lack of creativity and inability to delegate tasks. This can affect the relationship in the team, promote micro -management and harm overall productivity.
How to recognize perfectionism in yourself?
If you recognize yourself in the above items you may be a perfectionist:
- Your credo: "perfect or nothing."
- Your confidence depends on someone else's assessment.
- You are set to a negative result and torture yourself with negative thoughts.
- You make it difficult to make a decision because of fear of making them non -ideal.
- You put the interests of others above your own, forgetting your own needs and rest.
- You believe that achieving any goal will make you happy, but it never happens because of constant stress and exhaustion.
These signs can be characteristic of many people, and it is important to determine how much they affect you.
How to overcome perfectionism?
First, it is important to separate your personality from your actions. Instead of viewing mistakes as your personal failure, it should be understood that it is part of the learning process. It is important to learn from your own mistakes, not to regard them as significant disadvantages of personality.
To overcome perfectionism, it is important to change your thinking and focus on the process, not the result. A person should learn to treat himself as a friend and support himself in learning and development, no matter how perfect his achievements are.
Changing thinking and focus on the process allows you to rethink your attitude to imperfection and get rid of a perfectionist paralysis. Self -observation and development of internal support help to overcome perfectionism and create a healthier relationship with themselves and others.
