“Perfectionists are not all negative, miserable, unhappy and over-controlling individuals” – Asa Don Brown
Perfectionism is truly a blessing and a curse, it can benefit you beyond your wildest dreams but it can also be the thing that tears you apart. You often cannot have one without another.
If you meet a perfectionist and ask them their thoughts on it I can almost guarantee that they will name a whole list of negatives. These all may be true, but from my personal experience of being a perfectionist since birth practically I can tell you that there are also so many benefits that go along with them.
Benefits
- High-quality work
- A good work ethic
- Often a persistent mindset
Losses
- Anxiety about work
- Often a people pleaser
- Impossible standards for yourself
The benefits and the losses of being a perfectionist are tricky. I’m sure some people view these things as not bad, or maybe even good. There is no way to truly understand the mind of a perfectionist until you are in their mind. Good enough is not and will never be enough.
Even though it is a daily battle, I am thankful that I have this in me. It is a drive and cannot be stopped and it has gotten me to where I am today.