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What does it mean to be a perfectionist?
As much as people seek excellence in their actions, tasks and obligations, achieving perfection in everything is still a taboo. Even with the wise popular sayings, which say that we should not worry about it because we will never achieve it, being a perfectionist can be a quality, or a defect, beyond repair.
Perfectionism is linked to those who see an obligation to do everything right. It can be from the simplest to the most complex tasks. It can almost be a psychosis or an unprecedented addiction. However, attitudes like these can lead to disorders or inappropriate behavior in the eyes of others.
If you consider yourself a perfectionist and always seek the best in everything, you're not wrong in wanting to take the right measures. However, be aware that this can lead you to take ruthless attitudes, such as trying to override what is already better. Read on and learn aspects of this behavior and how to deal with the situation.
Positive points of being a perfectionist
Being a perfectionist also has its good side. Working hard on tasks and seeking to optimize solutions, the person becomes detailer and creates more sense of organization. Aware that things can not be done by halves or if they can be improved, perfectionists end up seeing flaws in everything. But, there is the positive part. Know below the qualities of perfectionism.
Attention to detail
Every perfectionist is extremely detailed, observes everything and does not let any fact go unnoticed. For example, in a piece of clothing that was efficiently sewn by a quality professional, the person ends up seeing that a small thing could be better.
If it is possible to do better, why not ask for the correction of what can present better results? It is in the smallest details, according to perfectionists, that attention is drawn.
To have the recognition
One of the characteristics of perfectionism is recognition. A person with this behavior wants to hear praise for their efforts, even if it is exaggerated. The perfectionist needs, in order to feel good and with a full ego, to hear a simple compliment about what they have done.
In professional environments, perfectionism is always noticed, since the fulfillment of tasks should provide the results that companies need. Employees who have the habit of doing everything with attention, feel they need merits and often, it comes.
Always wants to give the best
The perfectionist draws strength from his deepest inner self to show that he is capable. He exerts his personal side so extravagantly that he thinks he is the best at everything. Even with tasks that are simple, it must be done in a miraculous way and with all possible efficiency.
As much as the perfectionist person may develop the habit of quick recognition, he needs to observe that before he feels satisfied on his particular merit, a person who is needs to observe how magnificent the result of his work was.
Motivation
A strong characteristic that moves the perfectionist is motivation. He sees no problem in developing what is assigned to him and will do everything to get highlight and excellence in what he does. Beneficial quality in perfectionism, the incentive is the initial way to seek positive results for the actions.
The perfectionist turns out to be a great leader. Working alone or collectively, he can overcome challenges that have never been overcome before. Careful, practical and organized, he knows how to discern ideas and puts his best skills into practice.
Caution
Meticulous, rational and very much in control of his own security, the perfectionist thinks and rethinks, plans and redoes, decides and changes, and so many other behaviors until he is sure of what he is doing.
In other respects the perfectionist wants to avoid problems, so he gives everything he has to create situations which do not generate conflict. This does not mean that he is fearful, but he is very reflective.
Appreciation for challenges
Perfectionists are driven by challenges and do not see any difficulty in accepting them. For them, it is as if they were to take something that does not offer greater risks. Self-assured and owner of an unmeasured self-confidence, the perfectionist imposes on himself how to develop his creativity.
Therefore, it is not difficult for perfectionist people to get far in their goals. By plotting each step and knowing where you can get involved, the challenges that govern these people become peculiar habits that just become part of their routines.
Willingness to grow
The perfectionist is very methodical and minimalist in his plans for the future. He knows that it is not easy to get where one wants and is aware of the obstacles and challenges. He sees the external world as something very competitive and realizes that he is just one more in the middle of any conflict.
With ideas that he can do more than others and has much to offer, the perfectionist hopes to get where he wants, but will apply all his chips in the best resolution of what he wants to do.
Inclination to take risks
Careful and aware that there are risks in anything, the detailer seems to take pleasure in getting involved in what may be beyond his capabilities. It doesn't matter to the perfectionist. He wants to do whatever it takes and even if he uses his rules and charges himself, he will get the result he wants in front of him.
Taking things one step at a time, perfectionists will look at every detail of a challenge and won't be afraid to roll up their sleeves to deliver what's asked for or finish what's in front of them. Even though they know they may be making mistakes and taking risks, they won't change their mind and will never leave anything half done.
Negative points of being a perfectionist
Up to here, you have understood some personal characteristics of a perfectionist. The positive side of the perfectionist favors his life. However, there are things that can lead these people to wrong attitudes or behaviors due to the excessive search for quality.
As it is known, everything in excess does not bring good results, in any sector of life. See now the downside of being such a perfectionist.
Excessive self-criticism
One of the most harmful sides of perfectionism are the criticisms and judgments. Coming from third parties or being individual, criticism ends up being a stone in the path that, instead of helping, ends up leading to delay and misconduct.
Overconfidence makes people become individualistic for themselves and this generates a behavior alien to reality. Feeling the need to change what is ahead and wanting to fix what other people do, does not generate efficient results and this ends up becoming a conflict that is unprecedented.
Procrastination
The perfectionist has in his head that he knows how to do anything very well, but he is mistaken. Many times, such attitude leads him to procrastinate, to leave ahead what he can do right away. Aware that when he starts to do something, he will have the exact reasoning to execute his tasks.
However, as he begins to draw up his plans and put the actions into practice, he will adopt the deep style of wisdom. Even if he takes risks, wastes time on details, and wants excellence, the perfectionist fails to practice more as he puts off until later what can be done right away.
Difficulty working in a team
One of the great difficulties of the perfectionist is to work in a team. If he is not the leader, the work can be a disaster. He will see mistakes in everything they do. Outside the leadership, the perfectionist knows that he cannot determine what is to be executed and this will generate problems in the development of the tasks.
One of the biggest mistakes of the perfectionist when he is in teams is the behavior of other people that he will judge inadequate. Being difficult to live with the collective, the perfectionist prefers to act alone, even if he is involved up to his neck in assignments that he judges to be done alone.
Overconfidence
Another common mistake of the perfectionist is his overconfidence. Most of the times, this behavior brings uncountable damages to his life. Having the habit of not needing guidance or listening to anyone, the perfectionist ends up failing in his plans.
The person is aware of what is difficult and dealing with problems becomes a pleasurable challenge. The perfectionist sees new possibilities in anything, is to be faced with unexpected situations, it ends up being even a reason to be more detailed.
Constant dissatisfaction
The perfectionist is never satisfied. Thinking that everything can be done better, the person lives in a bad mood, bored and clearly wants to remedy what has no solution. The perfectionist wants to go beyond the boundaries and ends up being a victim of himself, for wanting to dig an endless pit.
Among so many challenges and situations in which he finds himself involved, the perfectionist takes everything personally and will not rest to leave everything the way he wants. Under another thought, he will see that from a difficult situation, it is possible to extract new sources of products and more knowledge.
Strategies that get in the way
A strategist and meticulous by nature, the perfectionist loves to make plans and create imaginary lines that may be completely "out of the box". This excess of ideas can be a factor that will undermine any action you are planning.
The perfectionist ends up getting bogged down with his ideas. And if he is in a team, conflicts will certainly occur. The person ends up seeing that no one is as bold and efficient as he thinks he is. Disrespecting the individual limits, he ends up being a reason for incomprehension and lack of rationality.
When perfectionism crosses the line
The perfectionist attitude can lead to some problems for those who have it. The person can adopt fear as an obstacle to develop their tasks, become extremist on a daily basis and feel exhausted due to the demands they make on themselves.
The excess of certainties can bring constant frustrations. With time, the perfectionist will have impacts in their personal relationships, since other people will not tolerate their exacerbated behavior. Read on and understand more.
Fear that everything will go wrong
According to medicine, many people who have perfectionism as a way of life end up being constant victims of anxiety crises and depression. According to studies, when a perfectionist is misunderstood and any possibility of better development is taken away from her, she gets sick and blames daily life for her failures.
Rationality ends up being left behind, which gives the perfectionist the excess of somatization through what does not exist. The tip at these times is to stop, breathe and reflect on what is in progress. Without being afraid, the best thing to do is to give time to the actions and perform them in a serene and unhurried way.
Extremism
People who possess perfection syndromes do not wait to see it happen. Results must be immediate and must correspond to the efforts made. If there is no determination, it is certain that all the work to be done or that has already been done will be seen as something that would not demand so much wisdom.
Chronic frustration
Because he wants excellence, the perfectionist gets internally destroyed when something doesn't turn out his way. This can lead to personality disorders, often caused by dissatisfaction and lack of encouragement.
When a perfectionist picks up something to do, he needs to feel confident and if he is denied anything that he thinks he is capable and unique to do, it can be the beginning of a great phase of sadness and frustrations. It is necessary to understand that not everything is within reach. If it were so, rules would be something merely trivial, without any value to the world.
Problems with other reviews
The perfectionist doesn't like to be criticized, he/she tends to judge. Being pointed as the cause of something badly done generates personal and internal conflicts. The worst thing is to see that others' criticisms are the pivot for anything not to flow as he/she wants.
Criticism among people is also another aspect not favorable. The perfectionist will feel obliged to interfere and the tendency is to make things even worse.
Mental exhaustion
He works so hard to get everything just the way he wants it, that by the end of the day he is destroyed. His ideas are so obvious that they can cause a short circuit in the mind. Even if he is working in your favor and wants all the recognition for himself, the perfectionist doesn't realize that he may be doing you harm.
Overthinking too much is the weapon of those who seek perfection. Even then, the mind reaches a point where it will no longer be able to discern about right and wrong.
Difficulties in relating to others
This is a great point of perfectionists. Because they think they are better than other people, they have serious relationship problems. Dealing with the collective ends up being conflicting, since the perfectionist knows who is who, and especially those they don't see as capable.
One of the big problems of this individualism is to accept that the world is full of different people and each one with their limitations. The perfectionist is faced with challenges and believes that human beings are dispensable.
Self-sabotage
Self-sabotage is the enemy number 1 of people. This behavior is frequent in perfectionists. In many cases he sees himself in the right of not intervening, believing that whatever is assigned to him will be surrounded by rules, wrong attributions and intrusions from third parties.
This is a very peculiar issue. Even when faced with possibilities and realizing that they can develop their best in the tasks, the perfectionist prefers to abdicate the function and feel free, because they won't have to face challenges that they consider unnecessary. Once this behavior is adopted, opportunities will take a long time to appear.
How to be a perfectionist in a healthy way?
You understood that being a perfectionist may not be a defect. It is a behavior that defines a person in their purpose of seeing and doing anything. The habit of perfection comes since the time of creation of the world. But, excellence by anything is still a challenge in life.
However, if you want to adopt the habit of perfection, do it with caution. Organize your ideas, have your plans fixed, accept the challenges and do not go beyond your capabilities. One of the defects of the perfectionist is to promise what you cannot fulfill and this will only bring you problems in the future.
Be measured in your actions. Listen to other people's opinions and value the collectivity. Think that no one is better than anyone else. Even with perfectionism, everyone makes mistakes. Do not judge and be careful with criticism. Do the best you can, but do not exaggerate. After all, everyone needs support and living in isolation with unreasonable measures, leads nowhere.