The Perfectionism – Procrastination Connection.
What is perfectionism?
If you have high standards, expect a lot from yourself, and try to do the best at everything you do, then you have the makings of a perfectionist. You probably also worry about life’s details and want everything to be just so.
When it comes to tackling a job, you may have excessive worries about making mistakes, mainly because of extremely high expectations you may have regarding your own performance. You decide to put off doing the work, and opt for something less hectic and less threatening to your performance standards.
This is an example of perfectionism-driven procrastination, which also leads to the psychological stress of performance anxiety.
There are some folk who believe that perfectionism is the root cause of all procrastination. Fortunately this is not so, as research has shown that perfectionism is only a part of the cause. Procrastination has a myriad of causes, of which striving for perfection is only one.
Does perfection really exist?
The short answer is NO!
It is universally agreed that Excellence is natural, and Perfection is a myth, which exists only in the mind. If you can agree that perfection is not real, then your eagerness to always do things right can move you into the domain of excellence, where you can learn to let go of the notion of perfection, and reduce your performance anxiety.
Excellence is what we all want to achieve, and the world thrives on excellence. But excellence is not perfection, and in excellence there are flaws, simply because we are human. Human beings are not perfect – and being perfect in everything we do is nothing but an impossible dream. We will always stop short of perfection.
Some factors which connect the perfectionism and procrastination process.
· You cling on to unrealistically high standards for yourself.
· Less than the very best is no option, and there are no guarantees that you will do well enough, so you do nothing.
· Anxious feelings attack you when think you may not do well enough in a task.
· You fear having these anxious feelings, so you dodge them by evading the task at hand, and rather do something safer like watching TV or playing computer games.
· You are tormented by concerns of making mistakes in things you do, and are afraid that your performance may not measure up to your own, or others expectations.
This becomes a vicious circle and the only way to break the pattern and successfully move on in life, is to learn how to stop demanding perfection from yourself.
How to help yourself get free from perfectionism.
When perfectionism and procrastination combine, you can end up being your own worst enemy. This combination is a major risk factor for performance anxiety, which will keep you from undertaking, or completing any projects you have in mind.
Here are some tips to help you deal with perfectionism.
· Stay motivated by your goals to do everything well, but allow yourself to believe that not everything will be done perfectly. Accept the fact that some things will be done imperfectly. This does not mean that you are a failure.
· Focus on taking action to do the things you want to do, while improving as you go along.
· For personal satisfaction, celebrate every small victory you achieve with the work you are doing.
· If you make any mistakes, learn from them and keep striving for excellence in the goals you have.
· Keep your eye on the big picture when working on a project. Without lowering your standards, determine what is needed to be done to achieve an excellent result, and don’t worry about small details that will take up your time and have no influence on the final outcome.
· Cultivate a positive mindset, and meditate on the difference between perfectionism and excellence. One will set you up for failure and anxious procrastination, while the other will not.
· Learn to know the difference between the two, and be gentle with yourself while you make the transition that will improve your mental attitude, and help to rid yourself of the aggravating perfectionism.
Fearfully and wonderfully made.
Remember that you are a wonderful human being, fearfully created, with infinite talents, plenty of potential, and a mind powerful enough to lead you away from the traumas of perfectionism.
As human beings, we have plenty of room for both excellence and flaws – but there is no place for the notion of perfection.
We can be excellent, but there is no way any of us will ever be perfect.
What would would it be worth to you to be able to overcome the procrastination that hold you back from being your best? The first step is tapping into the power of your mind. Have an experience of that sensations with the free relaxation hypnosis audio.