Of all of the destructive traits that get in my way, perfectionism is not one of them. However, I see it pop up with others at work sites and in my relationships with friends and family. My pattern goes in the opposite way. I pass things along in my personal and professional life in a pretty rough form and let others figure out the details.
In Brene Brown’s excellent book, Atlas of the Heart, she defines perfectionism in a clear and short statement:
“Perfectionism is a self-destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, live perfectly, work perfectly, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame.”
It’s a worthy statement to ponder and do a quick personal evaluation.
And, thank goodness, it’s one area I don’t have to sweat about. I’m just too sloppy.