Content of the material
2. Perfect creates paralysis
Stage fright exists because people worry they are going to make mistakes in front of other people. There is this fear that if you aren’t 100% perfect in your execution, you’re going to freeze on stage for everybody to see. Thus, people with stage fright avoid performing in front of others.
Perfectionism is a lot like stage fright. People get so worked up on how others may perceive their work that they aren’t able to complete it. For some people, this looks like procrastination. They wait until they are confident to work on the project the best way possible. For others, this means they are unable to turn in their work due to anxiety.
Not to mention, people with perfectionistic traits have a tendency toward low self-esteem and defensiveness. Neither of these traits necessarily make you want to work hard or put yourself in front of other people.
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Conclusion
It’s ok to want to do a good job, but relying on perfectionism is dangerous. Not only are you possibly creating significant barriers toward finishing projects, but you’re making yourself miserable in the process.
The concept of ‘done is better than perfect’ is a mindset shift that doesn’t happen overnight. But remembering how little it truly does for your well-being is a great start toward making positive change.
Is being the best truly worth the stress, procrastination, frustration, envy, and any other negatives that come out of perfectionism?Absolutely not. Focusing on quality is wonderful and you should do the best you can, but not at the expense of making yourself miserable.
If you have trouble determining whether you may be on the brink of perfectionism, here are some signs that may signal you need to back off and adjust your mindset.
- You have incredible ideas, but feel unworthy to put them into action.
- You become anxious at the thought of getting an acceptable grade (75-95%).
- You’re defensive when presented with constructive criticism.
- You’re focused on results instead of the journey of learning and growing.
- You feel depressed if you aren’t reaching your goals.
- You believe asking for help is a sign of weakness.
If you’re a perfectionist and you’re willing to read this article and learn, give yourself a huge pat on the back. You’re one step closer to changing your mindset to believing that “done is better than perfect.”
Do you believe that done is better than perfect? Tell me in the comments and let’s talk!
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