Are you a perfectionist? Don’t fret, it is not what the doctor prescribes any more…

Naina Modi
Jul 23, 2017 · 2 min read

Did you know that perfectionism can often be a detriment to ones lifestyle.

All through our growing up years, every time another individual (or we ourselves) make a mistake, we hear the statement- ‘‘It’s okay, nobody is perfect’’. Hearing this from our parents is a balm to our soul, at that moment, when the world seems to be crumbling around us. We hear it in multiple circumstances, whether it is when a dear friend unintentionally hurt our feelings, or when we didn’t excel on a particular test that we believed we could ace. The purpose of the statement is to gradually make us come to terms with the fact that it is natural for us, since we are only human, to make errors.

It is easier to perfect ourselves in a field for which we already have an inherent inclination. Understandably, we all as children have literally tried out every sport, every hobby, and studied every subject. This allowed us to identify where our aptitude lies, so we could hold onto that and perfect it.

But it is important to understand that there is still a substantial difference between being a perfectionist and perfecting a skill. Not all ace swimmers, musicians, or artists are perfectionists in their day-to-day life, perfectionism is usually limited to their field of interest. When perfectionism becomes a way of life, it can become maladaptive and can lead to a deterioration in one’s lifestyle.

A perfectionist is someone who sees the need to make no faults or have no defects, and to acquire all the required or desirable qualities, or characteristics. Usually such people have a low self esteem, low self- confidence, are poor delegators and workaholics. They always have too much on their plate, often more than they can handle. It is a path leading to disorders and complications like insomnia, anorexia-bulimia, depression, social alienation.

So don’t try to be perfect. Do your best and leave the rest. We can’t control everything in our lives, some things need to be left to the universe, and we need to learn to have faith that our actions will meet with the reaction we desire

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade