Do You Really Need To Be That Perfect?

Know when and where to draw the line to regain control

- Sara Bunny

It may be that you’re a perfectionist. And while it sounds positive on the surface, this modern-day affliction can do more harm than good. Whether it’s agonising for a week over a simple task at work, or not being able to rest before you’ve cleaned the house from top to bottom, perfectionism can hold us back, make us sick, and ironically, it may make us fail.

Sydney based researcher, Eloise King, a former perfectionist, says it’s a mindset that can turn you into your worst enemy. “You’re awash with stress all the time as you’re either beating yourself up for something you haven’t done perfectly, or you’re wishing for something in the future that’s more perfect,” she explains.

When Perfect Becomes Tiring

“Everything has a bright and dark side,” says psychologist Anoushka Beh. “Being driven towards perfectionism can sometimes motivate us to go beyond our comfort zones and attain more success. But, when too dominant, it can become obsessive, restrictive and cause us to place too much pressure on ourselves.”

It can reach a point when the obsession towards a certain goal can come to have a direct association with one’s own sense of self-worth and value. Feelings of unworthiness, depression, debilitating anger or frustration set in.