Why being a perfectionist can increase the quality of your work

Perfectionism. It’s not all bad you know. Except when you’re Natalie Portman in Black Swan about to kill yourself just to see a glimmer of it. All jokes aside though, in popular culture there exists a stigma of being a perfectionist. We’ve all made the assumption before that the extreme consciousness of making mistakes that characterizes perfectionists is a negative trait — to the point that their trying so hard to be perfect actually turns off many who care about them.

Is it possible though to view this defining quality of the perfectionist in a different light?

As with most things today, I think the principle behind this unattractive habit is correct, but the execution is flawed. Allow me to specify. When those of us want to do something perfectly or be perfect, we pay such close attention to every minute detail of the way we act, the words we choose to say and how we coordinate our bodies. The principle is simple: we pay close attention to how we carry ourselves before carrying out a decision. We think before we act, speak or do.

But here’s the real problem with the execution. Perfectionists become so caught up in thinking before a decision that they essentially overthink in many situations before they even get to the decision-making part. In effect, their decision-making processes are stunted by their quizzical nature.

So why then do I propose perfectionism to you in the first place if it seems to vex people so?

Thinking and reflecting before taking any action is a valuable practice that few people I’ve met in my life have mastered well. It’s not about taking five minutes to decide what kind of soft drink you want at the movie theatre which in the process you’d be the source of frustration for the the poor worker serving you and the annoyed customers behind you.

No, what I mean by thinking things through is simply be cognizant how you and others will respond to the decisions you’ve made. When you think things through as opposed to impetuously deciding on something, you’ve given yourself the potential to become wiser.

But as a word of advice for my fellow perfectionists out there, don’t spend too much time in the thinking process and don’t spend too much time scrutinizing your every slight movement. It’s mentally taxing work and not to mention unappreciated at that — unappreciated by others and even yourself, don’t kid yourself.

When it comes to improving on a skill, borrowing the reflective nature while at the same time avoiding the second guessing one of the perfectionist can get you one step closer to mastering your craft.

As a final sentiment, I have this to say: To live wisely, reflect on your decisions, but don’t live in your reflections.

A blast from my past, here’s a song I used to listen to in my highschool days. Something I was listening to while writing this piece.

In the comments section below, tell me about your own experiences of perfection gone wrong and how you will reflect, but not over-reflect in future decisions.