In life sometimes you come across a project or something that needs to be done and you simply can't finish it because you can't get it just right.
We all know one. Maybe you are one. A perfectionist. It's the ultimate humble-brag. Someone always seems to break it out right in the middle of a long story—oh but you know, I'm a perfectionist, so I couldn't leave it like that!—and on they ramble.
One thing I find interesting is perfectionism never seems to be brought up in conversation as a model to strive for.
I've never heard someone say, “You know what man, don't give up, you'll be perfect soon!” In fact, it's always the opposite. We're always encouraging each other in failure because nobody is perfect.
So why put that standard on ourselves? It's worn like a badge to resemble someone who is always striving for that unreachable goal—I’m a perfectionist! But what if it resembled fool's gold?
You might think you have a good quality when in fact the opposite is true.
Perfectionism comes from an insecurity. A fear.
I'm not good enough. I'll never have it together. I'll never achieve my goal or be who I want to be. I'm a failure as a parent and a spouse. My career won't flourish.
We think perfection is a combative measure to all these insecurities. If we're perfect then how could we be a failure?
But it does the exact opposite. It reinforces the insecurity because we'll never reach that impossible standard. We try to be perfect, we come up short, we feel bad, we try to be perfect. The cycle feeds itself.
Being dissatisfied with anything less than perfect leaves no credit for a job well done. And it spits in the face of trying.
Don't feel defeated if you can't handle everything you thought you could. It leaves room for endurance and growth.
There's nothing wrong with a hard worker that keeps on trying despite a lack of perfection.