Why you need to make perfectionism your secret weapon
Make excellence part of your life. Be a perfectionist, an imperfect one.
Perfectionism, the old myth of the superb existence.
We are tempted to look away when this word appears in front of us. We are so confused about whether to appreciate this concept or run from it when the occasion arises.
But mes amis, perfectionism is the tool that can lead to great results.
So how exactly are we supposed to deal with it to make it useful?
What are the indicators of perfectionism?
Is it a path to excellence?
The main characteristic of perfectionism is that it is a special trait of our personality, therefore, it can be modified and used wisely.
Most of the time we think of it as something completely sealed and integrated, as a root that can´t be moved.
We may be able to use perfectionism in our favor, having our work benefit from such a unique personality.
But is important to see perfectionism as a specific ability available to us, not as a must-to-have trait of our personality. We can mold our perfectionist traits into potential engines, not letting them be the ones ruling every aspect of our lives.
For instance, perfectionism doesn´t need to be confused with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
One´s a personality trait, the other one is mental related. Yes, perfectionism could be a symptom of OCD, but they aren’t the same. Broadly speaking, perfectionists tend to have an all-or-nothing type of thinking:
They have a fear of failure. All unrealistic standards, behaviors, and results have a second thought each time.
Also, perfectionists can have emotional ruptures. Let´s say they don´t meet a goal or project. This causes them stressful levels of guilt and distortion.
These constant cripples in their realities make them the prey of procrastination.
Yes, if all our work needs to be perfect, then it can be hard to even start said work. We can be dealing with some minor tasks, but in the end, it´s a hidden procrastination.
“Perfectionism becomes a badge of honor with you playing the part of the suffering hero.” — David D. Burns
Great news, perfectionism doesn´t end there.
We have two sides: goals or expectations-oriented perfectionism and risks or failures-oriented perfectionism. Pretty clear the strategy each one follows, right?
I would like to introduce a new approach: a positive strengthened, system-oriented perfectionism.
My objective here is to take the fundamental qualities - like hard work and having high standards, while at the same time implementing and visualizing plans and strategies instead of end goals or marginal risks alone.
What could be achieved with this type of perfectionism is more balanced thinking and usage of this trait.
We are going to focus on systems and on the steps to take rather than the end goals. We are not going to let failures or possible diversions make us feel more urged to do things in a better way.
We are going to visualize perfectionism as a tool to polish our work, not as an excellence standard.
Although excellence is not why we should apply our perfectionist traits, it is indeed a possible outcome of system-oriented perfectionism.
The more we keep making progress, the more we approach a high-end result.
But just a small reflection, perfectionism doesn´t lead you to excellence in any field. You are the one making excellence happen.
Use your ability, but don´t make it a fundamental part of your identity. Go and polish your work, being always perfectly imperfect.
⤴️ The Weekly Update
📚 We have the power to even in sickness, in adversity, act for good deeds. It doesn´t matter the suffering we have in our lives right now. All of us can do good. All of us can carry the tasks we were called to carry. That´s fascinating about the magic inside us.
💡 It´s hard to feel so deeply. Having the ability to experience real emotions and connection is a rare one. What´s even more rare is to have the ability to treasure, think, and use them. It´s such a complicated world, yet a beautiful one if lived through.
🎙️ Episode #325 of the Danny Miranda Podcast, ft. Ryan Ng. Ryan is an incredibly talented filmmaker and creator, whose purpose goes far more than serving other creators.
It´s giving them a voice and a free hand to help them discover their fullest potential. I loved one of the quotes: “Create Fearlessly”. A wonderful talk to hear this week.
⚔️ What I´ve worked on this week
Here is a glimpse of the work I did during the week, and also the links to my socials if you´d like to immerse more in the content I create on a daily basis.
Only valuable stuff, that´s my oath.
📸 Instagram ☑️ Twitter ✨ TikTok
✏️ Previous Life Brew
Hey, you might want to check it out =)
💭 The Lonely Reflection
How to win every argument?
Don´t start one.
It´s okay to just let be.
It´s a strength I´d say.
Before we wrap this talk, just a quick reminder:
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Thanks for tuning in. Let´s make this time a great one.
See you on the next Life Brew, until then: