Many people in my life would consider me to be a major perfectionist. Over time, though, I have realized that my perfectionist ways matter less and less and that they are not good for my overall health. I have learned the importance of not being so tough on myself and have felt a sense of relief.
One common characteristic of a perfectionist is to be really hard on yourself when you make mistakes. I used to hate making mistakes, and it would take me forever to forgive myself and move past them. I would constantly dwell on the past rather than just look forward to the future. I have learned that forgiving myself is important and that dwelling is not healthy. Mistakes happen to everyone, and at times, they need to be taken with a grain of salt rather than a heavy brick.
A perfectionist is often good at overextending and feeling that they have to do everything. In past years, I was a queen at overextending myself, and it was almost a standard I held myself to. I thrived on being super busy and had no idea what to do with myself if I was not. I thought that I had to be involved in almost everything offered at my school and that I had to be good at almost everything. Now I have realized that sometimes, I enjoy my own time, where I just do nothing and appreciate the quieter moments of life. I have learned that my own health is important, and to just do what I can. Taking some time to myself has made me appreciate the small undertakings more, like reading a book or just going on a walk outside and enjoying the view. I have also learned to appreciate the fact that there are just some activities that I will never be good at, but that is okay.
Perfectionists are usually professionals at freaking out about grades, leaving no room for any error. I used to consider it the end of the world if I did not receive an A, but now I am more accepting of not getting one. Now I realize that yes, grades are important, but more importantly, I hope to actually learn from the class and not just study for a grade. I want to learn for my future career.
Some of my perfectionist ways still exist and are a work in progress, but many of them have slowly disappeared. Life is so much more enjoyable when you do not have to worry about the little things and trying to do everything to perfection. The truth is that we are far from perfect and will never come close as much as we try. Some good traits come out of perfectionism, but more often than not you just set yourself up for failure. Everyone has flaws, and admitting that can bring a sense of peace in your life. You do not have to try and be perfect because perfection does not exist for us.
