Perfectionism
No matter who you are, perfectionism is an impossible pursuit. Ask yourself, ‘is it really possible to be 100% perfect’? The answer is an emphatic NO! So what do we actually mean when we talk about perfectionism?
Although there is no ‘perfect’ definition, we understand perfectionism to include 3 main ingredients:
Unrelenting striving for excessively high standards (for yourself and others)
Judging your self-worth to be contingent on your ability to strive for and achieve such unrelenting standards
Continuing to set and pursuit excessively high standards despite the negative consequences to you and others
Perfectionism may rear its head in a number of life arenas such as work, academia, relationships, domestic chores, grooming, sports, exercise or body image/weight. Common perfectionistic behaviours may include the following:
Reassurance seeking
Difficulty in making decisions in a timely manner
Giving up easily
Procrastinating
Not knowing when to stop
Checking behaviour
Hoarding
Avoiding situations in which you might fail or make a mistake