The Cost of Perfection

It is a desire for everything to be absolutely impeccable and unflawed in any way.

Many people are perfectionists. The house has to be clean and everything put in its proper place at all times, dishes washed/dried, laundry washed/dried/folded and put away. The yard has to be mowed, flower beds have to be free of weeds, and trees must be trimmed in a certain way. The list goes on and on. Perfectionists work at being proper and correct constantly.

Can you imagine living in that state all the time? The stress of trying to be perfect must be excruciating. A perfectionist can’t handle harsh judgements because they strive for the highest excellence. Their self-worth depends on their accomplishments and their high standards. They miss out on so much in life because they demand so much of themselves.

For example, can you imagine a concert pianist making a mistake while performing? It takes hours and hours of practice, dedication, stamina and energy to be able to play a musical composition perfectly for an audience. But audiences demand perfection in a performance. They pay to hear a talented musician. For a professional concert pianist to make a mistake is unheard of.

Many of us have just witnessed perfectionism in the Olympics. The gold medal winner in women’s 10-meter diving event was Quan Hongchan. At 14 years old, she performed two dives that earned perfect 10s from all seven judges. Perfectionism in diving. The Olympic athletes proved that perfectionism in their sport and their abilities takes lots of work, time, focus, willpower and determination. Medal winners achieve their goals but at what price? How much of normal life did they miss because of their constant exercising or practicing their sport? We saw firsthand, that mental health issues can arise in the best of athletes such as Simon Biles. These athletes have the added stress of competing and excessive media attention. Their every move is scrutinized. They are representing their country on the world-wide stage and the pressure to achieve is at its highest level.

Perfectionism and the constant need to achieve can lead to mental issues such as stress, the feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and self-doubt. But there are ways of dealing with perfectionism. Realistic thinking, don’t be so critical of yourself and have helpful thoughts. For example, having a clean and organized home is wonderful but have one room in the home that isn’t always perfect. Don’t fret about the yard always being perfectly manicured. So what if the garage needs sweeping again? Enjoy life, laugh and do not be so critical of yourself.