Ponderings (January 2010) - “PERFECTIONISM”

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary …

Perfectionism is “a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable”

Sharing my thoughts …

It’s becoming more obvious to me with each passing year that my perfectionist tendencies are wearing me out.  Striving for 100% in everything results in me either getting stuck and not moving forward or spending too much time and energy which leads to me feeling burnt out.  In addition, even with all my efforts, I’ve never attained perfection!  So this year I’m committed to letting it go.  Yet, even as I write this, I can feel my inner perfectionist critic nagging at me to make sure I do this right.  YIKES!  Then I smile and realize it’s at these moments that a sense of humor in the imperfection of my attempts to stop my perfectionism can help me through this process.  Seeing the humor in trying to, or even thinking I can, reach perfection lightens up my mood.  Then I can more easily chill and relax my perfectionist standards.  Wish me luck … and … a strong sense of humor!

Questions to ponder …

1. What does perfectionism mean to you?
2. How do you feel when you fall short of perfection?
3. How do you feel when you are striving for perfection?
4. How do you know when you are stuck in perfectionism?
5. What can you do when you catch yourself stuck in perfectionism?
6. Have you ever reached perfection?  How did you feel?  Was it worth the cost?
7. How has being a perfectionist helped you and/or others?  Hurt you and/or others?
8. How much extra time and energy do you spend trying to make something perfect?

Ponderings challenge …

For the next 30 days pay attention to what it cost you to focus on reaching perfection.  Instead of striving for 100%, experiment with stopping at 80%.  How does this feel?  What is the end result?

Related quotes …

A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.  [John Henry Newman]

Once you accept the fact that you're not perfect, then you develop some confidence.  [Rosalynn Carter]

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.  [Harriet Braiker]

Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.  [William Shakespeare]

Perfectionism is the enemy of creation. [John Updike]

Does "anal-retentive" have a hyphen?  [Alison Bechdel]