Expecting and comparing your work with an idealized standard that doesn’t exist leads to a feeling of dissatisfaction. Perfection inhibits your ability to progress and manage life and work. It slows down your process when you are facing challenges. It can make you feel anxious, guilty and inferior. Spending too much time on tasks and avoiding tasks because you can’t do them perfectly, causes underachievement and affects work-life balance. Perfection leads to paralysis. How has fear of not doing something perfectly kept you stuck?
Are you always trying to reach a standard that you imagine others expect? From whom did you get this idea of perfection – parents, teachers, spouse, bosses or social beliefs? Are these ideas helpful or detrimental to your work performance? Is this standard essential to achieving the outcome you desire?