Perfectionism is a limits our potential, performance and ability to experience the best life has to offer. Perfection is as unattainable as reaching the horizon. Everything in this life has flaws and imperfections. This is a difficult truth to believe for me, as a recovering perfectionist, but nevertheless still a universal truth. I have demanded perfection be the standard for my performance in every area of life for many years. Anything less than perfection is unacceptable, which can quickly turn into a belief (lie) that I am unacceptable. At some level this mindset helped me reach high levels of performance, but it eventually capped my potential because of the immense and unsustainable nature of perfectionism (i.e. depleted energy, anxiety, depression, shame and fear). Pursuing perfection keeps our best selves in prison. It is time to put perfectionism in prison.
If perfection is the end goal, which is unattainable, then it becomes very difficult to move, create and live with much lasting motivation, joy or peace towards as we go after a goal because we ultimately know we cannot obtain the goal. For example, in writing and publishing online content for the world to see, the perfectionistic part of me is screaming at all the imperfections. I like writing and creating content that might be helpful for people, but in the past I have rarely shared these ideas with the outside world. I know my ideas are not perfect. I fear rejection, disagreement and disapproval from people if my ideas are not accepted. The questions I must respond to are; “Do I remain hidden because my ideas will never be perfect enough to offer the world or do I begin to offer my imperfect ideas and see if it is helpful to others?”
If we do not move in the direction of our goals, dreams and mission, then our best life (the potential of who we are, the goodness we bring to life and the positivity of possible change in the world) is kept imprisoned by perfectionism.
The journey away from perfectionism has not diminished rather it has increased my performance, popped open potential and freed my purpose from the prison of perfectionism. Hopefully you will find some ideas here that will help you experience the freedom to be the best version of yourself. Here is a short list of ideas to start with:
- I encourage you to take the risk to pursue your daring, audacious dreams despite the presence of imperfection.
- So many people will benefit from the best in you coming out to play.
- As you move towards living out your best self, acknowledge the beauty found in imperfection, because it means you are pursing something noble, great and honorable.
- Celebrate the courage it takes to face imperfection, rejection and failure.
- Don’t let any perfectionistic thoughts to flow freely through your mind. Catch them as quickly as possible and find some truth to destroy these lies.
Let me know if you have any other ideas that will help us defeat perfectionism and put it in prison.
