5 Little-Known Signs of Perfectionism

Do you see yourself as a perfectionist? Do you often catch yourself not being satisfied with anything you achieve, always wanting to go that extra mile towards perfection? It's common for perfectionists to not see themselves as such. You can easily confuse being a high-achiever with being a perfectionist. 

Psychologists define perfectionism as a personality trait in which the person sets for themselves excessively unrealistic standards and strives towards absolute flawlessness. Perfectionists tend to be very critical of themselves and others; they are known to be quite picky. Perfectionism is widely misinterpreted as a type of healthy motivator to achieve your goals when, in fact, it's the exact opposite. Anxiety, anger, overthinking, and rigidness are just some of the traits associated with it. There's a great cost to being a perfectionist, no doubt. Your perfectionism tendencies don't arise from a need to be perfect; they are rooted from a deep feeling of not ever being good enough. This means that it's a never-ending cycle and satisfaction is rarely achieved. 

Perfection goes against human nature. Nothing is perfect and, most importantly, no one is perfect. Ironically, perfectionism could actually prevent you from being your best self because no matter what you achieve, you will always look for something more. 

We tend to imagine that a perfectionist is someone who always has everything tidy and clean, organized by color or size. The truth is perfectionism can be seen in someone's habits and way of thinking more than their preference for a tidy environment. Here are 5 little-known signs of perfectionism:

1. It's Always All or Nothing

You always think and subsequently act in extremes. Everything is either good or bad; there's no in-between. It's black or white, right or wrong—perfect or an utter catastrophe! 

2. Everyone Else Will Do the Job Inadequately

You are always thinking that there's no one who's ever going to get the job done as perfectly as you would. You don't trust that others are good enough, so you have a huge problem delegating.

3.  You Only See Your Mistakes

You achieved something spectacular and everyone is praising you for it. However, all you can think about is that one tiny mistake you did and it changes your whole mood and attitude. 

4. Your Self-Confidence Depends on Your Achievements

When something goes wrong from your perception, your self-confidence takes a serious hit. On the other hand, when you've achieved a goal or are close to achieving it, it takes a noticeable boost.

5. Procrastination Is Your Best Friend

While it may seem unlikely, procrastinators are actually perfectionists. You tend to avoid any situation where you think you might fail, the logic being "if I'm going to fail anyway, then why try?"

The good news is now that you've identified perfectionist tendencies in your personality, you can learn to overcome them. Check out our quick tips on How to Overcome Perfectionism. 

You might also be interested in these 3 Quick Tips to Protect Your Energy.

By: Amal Ghali