Dominating Perfectionism To Increase Your Performance

People are having the desires of perfectionism when they try to fulfill unreachable goals. That is trying to make their works "without flaw" or mistakes. However, is it possible to find real fulfillment and enjoyment through being a perfectionist and striving for perfection always?

You might be a perfectionist if you're someone who always want to keep a very high standard with your performance. This is usually about an object or any action. 

You could be also looking for the best results and you inspect the smallest details for any problems.

Is the Habit Bad for You?

In truth, this habit and standard can be bad for you. But it can be good when used the right way. It is good to know everything about perfectionism.

Fulfillment is good, but overdoing things will always make you unsatisfied and discontented with life. Aiming on making something better is always good because there will be some improvement, development and more productivity.

That’s why we ride on cars today instead of horse carriages because there’s progress.

However, you should know when enough is good enough for the time being and you have a life to live, other things to satisfy and relationships to nourish. Perfectionism would most likely give you a stressful life and there’s always the fear of making a mistake when working on something.

There’s the tendency of thinking over and over and finding errors to correct. It can even lead to anxiety symptoms and worse, depression problems. Trying to be perfect can also spend lots of your time as you give too much effort and thinking with what you’re doing.

This can also lead to analysis paralysis which is the problem of taking too much time to finish an activity. For example, a project because the person keeps on thinking, researching and changing things about the work until it becomes "without error" as she/he sees it.

Why Things Cannot Be Perfect?

You should start considering that the practice of perfectionism would often lead to frustration because things can never be perfect. You can find a flaw sooner or later with what you do and it can make you feel unfulfilled and incompetent instead of finding accomplishment with the efforts that you give.

Trying to always fit according to other people’s opinions and praise would not help you find fulfillment with yourself instead you might end up working to satisfy others’ way of thinking and understanding of things.

It is often not good for the health when you always try to bend yourself to fit others’ recognition and when you overexert yourself. You may lack rest and experience sleep deprivation at night. If you get sick or have bad condition the more you can’t perform well.

Remember that you have your own personality and capabilities. You cannot always focus on impressing others. You should do your best and complete what needs to be accomplished and then move forward.

You’ll grow eventually with what you do and you’ll find opportunities to correct things needed to be improved at the right time, you’ll get better and better. You’ll be recognized by others naturally.

It has Its own Benefits Too?

Perfectionism has its benefits when limits are set. For example, if you’re a coach of a football game, you can set balanced requirements on your team members as they play the game. It is helpful for better time management if you can apply it this way.

This will encourage better performance and when they become better at playing and used up their energies they should stop for a proper rest and rejuvenation. Then when they’re reconditioned they can practice again to be better.

Becoming better doesn’t always happen overnight. It takes time, understanding, patience and persistence with the situation. As long as people have a positive direction and the will for development they’ll become better in time without forcing it.

There are even times when icebreakers should be used in order to recondition yourself and others so there can be better performance with an activity or work.

What if perfectionism sets in and you start expecting very high standards with your team members right away? They will most likely have a hard time with you and they won’t keep up with your requirements most likely.

First of all, they don’t have the same mindset as you do and they don’t have the same habits and abilities as you do. An effective leader knows how to balance how team members improve work and find meaning in their lives. Perfectionism can be helpful when it’s put in the right place.

Even with yourself as you do things like a project or an assignment, you have a set of tasks to do and deadlines to meet and you’re not the only one submitting your work to your boss or teacher. Generally you would have to simply meet all the requirements while doing your best. You should get things done as your priority.

There will also be times when you have to refuse and "say no" to others' request or asking for a favor when you are busy with things that you do especially if you have time limits and schedules to complete.

Getting Close to It

This is something important you have to understand about perfectionism. Since you cannot be perfect, you can at least become your best. If you’re passionate and you like what you do then you’ll naturally make a way to become better!

• You’ll study harder and gain more knowledge.

• Obstacles would seem like challenges that need to be overcome.

• You’ll find new ways of doing things. You’ll start to be resourceful.

• You won’t be stressed too much with what you do. You’ll find out that the effort you give is always well worth it and there’s a sense of excitement as you work.

In other words, when you like what you’re doing, you’ll automatically have the enthusiasm to make a way and improve yourself! You should consider getting organized with yourself which can really help you save time and complete the tasks you need to do.

You can use tools like a daily planner and a weekly planner to help you complete your schedule. Using to-do lists can also help you get reminded of things you might forget and this can save you time and worry.

Perfectionism and Your Self Esteem

This is something you need to take care of, that is your self esteem. Your self esteem is your self confidence in life and it affects the way you live. When you strive for perfection, you set high ambitions and create goals that are very hard to reach. You can be a perfectionist on big or small matters like how you write an essay or letter to someone.

If you’re not good at writing phrases or sentences, you can get stuck for long when you’re doing it and you may end up thrashing the whole essay in disappointment. There’s the tendency to feel that you’re not as good as other people. People like authors of books, writers in newspapers, magazines and on the internet.

The problem with this is when it leads to the feeling of unworthiness  and defeat. When you arrive at these feelings your self esteem is badly affected and you might lose your desire to improve and become better.

Do you know that most looked-up talented people or achievers are not born that way? Like anyone else they went through what is called "the learning curve" or developmental stage. Many of them had many trials and tests before they reached their current situation in life.

Another example is that math students are not instantly good at algebra. Why? Because they started from the basics that is "one plus one equals two." As time goes by they start to learn multiplication and division then eventually algebra.

It takes time and process to learn, grow and mature. Effective time management gives value to "motivation" and it is something you need to maintain as you move on in life.

What Can You Do with What You Have?

If you think you’re not good at something that you do for example, in writing essays the reality is that you’re not alone and you should think instead that "I may not be good yet but I’ll be good at it someday."

You’re still learning. Life is a continuous learning and perfectionism shouldn’t be the standard on all things. You should give respect and recognition on the things you can do. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses, why not look instead on the things that you’re good at.

You might be good at cooking and you can become a popular chef someday and not all people are good at it. Or you might be good at computer programming. You can get highly paid someday when you improve this skill and not all people are good at this also.

Even if you’re only good at making people happy it’s a great help to others. If you feel that you’re not good at something and if other people tells you so, do not believe it because one way or the another you’re good at something that others are not.

When you’re not good at something you need, you can get better if you train yourself. You should also harness your skills and talents for personal advantage. So you don’t have to get trapped in a wrong perfectionism mindset which can make your life miserable.

Perfectionism in general should be avoided except for the exception of using it the right way. Simply doing your best is usually what’s required in order to have progress in life. We should strive for completeness and a healthy habit instead, as we do things in order to attain development and achievement.

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