Comments on: Overcoming Perfectionism – 5 Ways to Live With Not Being Perfect

By: How Psychotherapy Can Change Your Life - Without Talk Therapy : Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:43:20 +0000

[...] and stick to it. For instance, if you’re a perfectionist, maybe you only need to learn a few tips for overcoming perfectionism. If you struggle with mild depression, maybe you need to learn what Seasonal Affective Disorder [...]

By: Demian Kasier

Demian Kasier — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:34:01 +0000

Hi Laurie,

I’d love your article, good tips!

Can I add one?

This one is for procrastination perfectionists: Try to focus on beginning to work instead of finishing. Beginning is the easy part, and there often is no fear and pain associated with beginning. If you begin often, you’ll be suprised how soon you have actually finished without realizing it.

By: Becky

Becky — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:42:12 +0000

I’ve just found this article which is helpful. Perfectionism makes my life difficult, but it’s hard to shake the fear that if I stop striving for perfection everything I do will be wrong and rubbish. Especially at work. Greetings to fellow perfectionists!

By: Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:20:20 +0000

Thanks for your comments; I’m glad this article on overcoming perfectionism was helpful!

By: Jeff Goins

Jeff Goins — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 04:47:52 +0000

Great tips! I’m blogging about perfectionism in writing tomorrow. Thanks for the inspiration.

By: Regena Garrepy

Regena Garrepy — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:32:56 +0000

As someone who has “Escaped the Prison of Perfection” I can tell you that its a lonely isolating place. These are great tips. For me, it began with the awareness of always wearing filtered lenses. That I was always seeing the world in terms of better than and not good enough. I needed to learn to find my own worth, build my courage muscle to take risks, begin a gratitude practice and lastly to learn surrender.

By: Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:34:22 +0000

Louise,

Thanks for your comment! I agree that perfectionism can be an obsession or addiction….and one way to overcome perfectionism is to take small steps. Commenting on blog posts and not worrying about being perfect is a great way to overcome perfectionism.

I hope you do reduce the stress you put yourself under, and wish you all the best!

All good things,
Laurie
.-= Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen´s last blog post blog ..Pay Off Your Mortgage – 5 Ways to Make Mortgage Payments Go Away =-.

By: Louise

Louise — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:02:49 +0000

Well as a perfectionist (as I have today discovered that indeed I am), I thought I would never get this written as I would be worried about ‘getting it right’ ah ah!!. But, I have to say that from reading the comments I am not alone. Your article made me realise that I need to take action, and be more realistic – hard to do as I think being a perfectionist is almost an addiction!! But if I am going to reduce the stress I put myself under, and stop being ill, then I need to do it.

Thank you for putting info like this on the web.

By: Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:12:25 +0000

Hi James,

That’s an interesting question…and I’m not sure there is a black and white answer.

I think a job — no matter what it is — can contribute to perfectionism and procrastination. But, I also think that people who tend to lean towards perfectionism and procrastination may struggle with it no matter what their job is. For instance, some young children have strong tendencies towards perfectionism and procrastination, and they don’t have any job at all (other than playing and learning, of course).

So I lean towards the idea that we need to deal with perfectionism and procrastination APART from a specific job. I think it’s better to focus on how we cope with everyday life, rather than change our environment.

That said, however, a job can have deep, long-lasting, and HUGE effects on our lives! So, if your job isn’t contributing to your mental or emotional health, you may want to consider finding a different line of work.

I can’t tell you if you should quit your job….but I do think you need objective insight into whether your personality is making your job more difficult, or your job is making your life more difficult. How do you find that insight? You could talk to a counselor, trustworthy family member, or some type of advisor (eg, spiritual leader or professional mentor).

And finally, I do think that if you’ve been feeling ill for years, then you definitely need some type of change in your life! I hope you find the strength and courage to make the changes you need…and I’d love to hear how you’re doing.

Blessings,
Laurie

By: James

James — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:01:03 +0000

Do you think a job in QA (quality assurance) is toxic to a person who is trying to overcome perfectionism and procrastination? I’ve been doing QA work for years – in a place where the boss is ignorant enough not to understand software is never 100% bug free. I’ve been feeling very ill for years and getting worse as time goes by. At least I am finally understanding what my “mental” problem is… I was just introduced to the “perfectionism” problem recently.