Perfectionism: Friend or Foe?

By Max Belkin, Ph.D.

Procrastination and under performance are often linked to unrealistic aspirations. When people pursue realistic goals, anxiety tends to be manageable and might actually increase motivation and concentration. However, when goals are unrealistic, the accompanying anxiety can be overwhelming and counterproductive. For many perfectionists, the need to be the very best in whatever they do can render them worried, powerless, and hopeless.

The “perfect” is the enemy of the “good”

Perfectionism is rampant in our society and often takes the form of obsession with appearance, achievement and prestige. It is part of the American Dream—the view that any of us can achieve whatever we want if we just try hard enough. However, perfectionism can lead to feelings of worthlessness, fear, and shame.

Preoccupation with perfection tends to go hand in hand with low self-esteem. Perfectionists often have a very harsh inner voice that castigates them as “lazy bums” or “losers” whenever they fail to measure up to their unrealistic expectations. This internal critic is always on the lookout for flaws.

Perfectionists are often insecure and anxious about falling short of their own standards--as a result, they constantly live in fear of private shame and public humiliation.

Perfectionists perceive themselves in terms of “all or nothing” — “Either I become this great person that I fantasize about or I am worthless.” They find themselves caught in a vicious cycle of chasing perfection: they worry about living up to their aspirations, then procrastinate because they are anxious and feel even more inadequate, and so set up new expectations…and on it goes.

Unfortunately, by its very nature, perfection is a moving target. No matter how hard-working and accomplished a perfectionist might be in the eyes of other people, he or she never feels that he or she is good enough. A perfectionist's quest for self-improvement is akin to Sisyphus' labor: Sisyphus’ eternal punishment was pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll down every time.

Perfectionism is an equal opportunity curse

Perfectionism affects people from all walks of life: artists and lawyers, scientists and doctors. Janet, a writer, spends hours every day in front of her computer laboring to give birth to the perfect words in the perfect order. She believes that only exquisitely written prose can redeem her as an artist and as a human being. As a result, she writes very little and feels bad about herself.

Similarly, Mike, a litigation attorney, sets out to write the best-researched and best-argued briefs in his law firm. He frequently becomes so overwhelmed with anxiety about his performance that he finds himself playing video games instead of working.

Janet and Mike are so preoccupied with achieving success and perfection that they can't tolerate the anxiety and imperfections of the creative process. In particular, they feel they are not allowed to produce less-than-perfect rough drafts. Being unable to deliver a masterpiece on the first try, Janet and Mike feel demoralized, defeated, and ashamed.

Perfectionism and parental expectations

Perfectionism often stems from childhood experiences with primary caregivers. Many insecure parents get emotionally invested in raising highly accomplished children. They tend to be very critical of their children's appearance or academic performance and fail to empathize with their children's limitations.

For example, whenever Janet's mother used to say something critical about her daughter's hair or clothes, she would usually add in a sweet voice: “Honey, I just want you to be perfect.”

In Mike's family, his parents' excessive focus on his accomplishments was cloaked in the language of parental sacrifice: “Sweetie, we worked so hard to help you become great in whatever you decide to pursue.”

This emphasis on success and recognition, along with the accompanying sense of guilt and shame whenever Janet or Mike fell short of meeting their parents' expectations, contributed to their fragile self-esteem and insecurities.

Five practical steps to tame perfectionism

The problem, of course, is that nobody is ever perfect. Here are five practical steps you can take to begin taming your perfectionist tendencies:

• Acknowledge and cultivate the part of you that sees yourself as worthy, as good-enough. For instance, make a list of things that you like about yourself: good personal qualities, rewarding relationships with others, meaningful experiences.
• Pay attention to your “all or nothing” thoughts and remind yourself that you don't need to be the best in everything in order to feel loved and respected. When you feel the urge to beat yourself up for your perceived imperfections, tell yourself: “Here I go again. Enough already.”
• Try to be less critical of other people, treat them with patience and compassion. In addition to improving your personal and professional relationships, it might reduce your fear of being criticized by others.
• Surround yourself with people who are less caught up in pursuit of status, money, and success, people who appreciate friendship, family, and community.
• Find a therapist who will help you to contact the unique and special qualities you already possess.  In psychotherapy, you will learn to articulate the desires and vulnerabilities that can lead to perfectionism. As you become more self-accepting and hopeful, the pressure to be perfect may subside.

Max Belkin, Ph.D. is a relational psychoanalyst and psychologist. He is a graduate of NYU and the William Alanson White Institute and serves on the editorial board of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. He teaches graduate courses in couples counseling and individual psychotherapy at NYU. He works with individuals and couples in his private offices in Greenwich Village, New York City, and in Atlantic Highlands, NJ.

Thanks http://www.psychologytoday.com/