“Perfectionism is like polishing a diamond so relentlessly that you end up dulling the very shine you were trying to enhance.” Kamran Loghman
AVOID PERFECTIONISM
For some people, no matter what they accomplish, a small voice inside continues to whisper, “It’s not good enough.” This is perfectionism. Perfectionism is driven primarily by internal pressures, the desire to avoid failure, criticism, rejection, or harsh judgment. It is the tendency to set extremely high standards for yourself and to believe that your work, appearance, decisions, or behavior must be flawless, or as close to flawless as possible. Perfectionists often set their goals and expectations so high that they become nearly impossible to achieve. Others may constantly wait for the “perfect” time, circumstances, or conditions before starting something meaningful. As a result, perfectionism can prevent people from taking action, making progress, or recognizing their accomplishments. At its core, perfectionism is a relentless pursuit of flawlessness, characterized by excessively high or unrealistic standards and harsh self-evaluation. A perfectionist may constantly search for every real or imagined flaw in themselves, their work, or their circumstances. No matter how well they perform, they may focus on what could have been better rather than acknowledging what they have achieved. This happens because, deep down, the perfectionist often feels that they are never quite good enough—and therefore, nothing they do can ever feel truly good enough either.
Mastery, Improvement, & Perfectionism
Mastery and expertise are not the same as perfectionism. Being a master of your craft does not mean being a perfectionist. Perfectionism and continuous improvement are two completely different mindsets. A perfectionist constantly looks for flaws and focuses on what is wrong. Someone committed to improvement, on the other hand, looks for ways to make something work better, become more effective, or evolve over time. Consider the Cadillac Series 62 of the 1940s. It was an iconic automobile and a masterpiece of automotive design for its time. Yet it did not even have seat belts. Over the decades, cars evolved through advances in technology, engineering, comfort, and safety. Does that mean the Cadillac of the 1940s was a bad car simply because modern cars are far more advanced? Of course not. It was a remarkable achievement for its time. This is the distinction between perfectionism and improvement: improvement does not invalidate what came before it. Few cultures have embraced continuous improvement as deeply as the Japanese, through the concept of Kaizen. Kaizen is the practice of making small, steady, incremental changes over time to improve quality, safety, efficiency, and performance. Growth is not about constantly finding fault with what already exists. It is about recognizing what works, appreciating how far you have come, and continually looking for ways to make it better. Improvement—not perfectionism—is the foundation of meaningful growth, mastery, and progress in every area of life.
WHAT IS PERFECTIONISM
To get started, step away from your office or home and find a place where stress is minimal.
Take a pen and paper and write down your thoughts.
Start by listening to the audio session, then watch the short video(s).
PREPARATION
GUIDED SESSION
Use headphones for optimal sound
Expert Landing
Mastery of Skills
Perfectionism. Marc H. Hollender. Comprehensive Psychiatry. V. 6, Issue 2. P. 94-103. 1965.
Perfectionism and psychopathology. Roz Shafran. Clinical Psychology Review. V. 21. Issue 6. P. 879-906. 2001.
Positive Conceptions of Perfectionism. Joachim Stoeber. Personality and Social Psychology Review. V. 10, Issue 4. 2006.
The nature and assessment of perfectionism. Enns, Murray W. et. al. Theory, research, and treatment. American Psychological Association. p. 33–62. 2002.
Clinical perfectionism. Roz Shafran. Behaviour Research and Therapy. V. 40, Issue 7. P. 773-791. 2002.