How to Overcome Perfectionism & Still Be a Success in Life

Perfectionists may sport perfect grades in school, earn endless promotions on the job, or report a list of several other achievements. Some perfectionists may also remain prone to failure, but still devote themselves to the endless stresses of trying to attain perfection. Perfectionist tendencies can cause stress and anxiety for sufferers, leading to paralysis when it comes to making decisions for fear of making a mistake. Overcoming such tendencies requires an understanding of perfectionism and possibly professional assistance.

Instructions

• 1

  Analyze the areas in which you find yourself exhibiting perfectionism. Are you determined to be the highest-achieving in school or the most in-shape person you know? Perfectionists often set unrealistic standards for themselves. Set small, realistic goals along the way to reaching your larger goal. Look to your past accomplishments to see what goals might be reasonable for you to strive for in the present.

• 2

  Speak to other people about their successes and failures. You may learn that it took another person five years to earn a promotion, or that another person spent several months and hours of exercise losing 10 pounds. Document your findings and refer to them whenever you feel others find success in a short period of time with minimal work, while you must work hard for a long period of time to see any results.

• 3

  Question your perfectionist tendencies. When you find yourself feeling anxious about your performance, ask yourself questions such as, "What do I get out of this anxiety? What would happen if I weren't perfect?" If you do make a mistake, consider what you might learn from that mistake, or the worst possible result that could come from the mistake.

• 4

  Analyze "all-or-nothing" ways of thinking. Perfectionists often see the world in black-and-white, or as "success" or "failure." Understand that there are varying degrees of success and failure. If you do not meet a goal, set a smaller, more achievable goal first. If you do not win a writing contest in a large competition, set a goal to contribute work to a writing contest in a small competition first.

• 5

  Examine other aspects of your personality. Perfectionists often believe their self-esteem depends upon the approval of other people. Due to this dependence, perfectionists attempt to be perfect to gain approval. Consider your positive traits. Ask others to describe you. Analyze others around you and take note of their flaws and positive traits. Realizing that people are not "all or nothing" can help perfectionists accept their own flaws.

• 6

  Seek the assistance of a therapist or other mental health professional if you face struggles in overcoming perfectionism. A mental health professional can teach you coping mechanisms for overcoming perfectionism and teach you how to maintain a productive way of life without holding onto destructive belief systems.