How Perfectionism Sabotages Self-Mastery
The following is an excerpt from my new book, The Journey to Self-Mastery: Unlocking the Secrets to Personal Transformation.
Striving for perfection can act as a roadblock to achieving self-mastery. While our society often commends perfectionists for their high standards and tireless commitment, their achievements can come at the cost of prolonged dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
Renowned psychiatrist David Burns writes in Psychology Today about the potential pitfalls of perfectionism, noting, “While perfectionists aim high, they often fall short, which can lead to unstable relationships and mental health concerns.”
Some positive traits are associated with the perfectionist personality type, so it is best thought of as a multifaceted feature. In its maladaptive form, perfectionism pushes people to strive for impossibly high standards or lofty objectives, frequently resulting in burnout.
The weight of self-imposed unrealistic goals invariably ends in disillusionment, and perfectionist can be excessively critical of themselves when they don’t meet their benchmarks. They often peg their self-worth to their achievements and are consumed by pursuing these goals.
Psychologist Thomas S. Greenspon distinguishes between “striving for excellence” and perfectionism. He contends that…
