Being a perfectionist can seem like a positive thing, something we should aspire to? After all, it is the opposite of being unconcerned about the details, isn’t it? But look a little deeper; a perfectionist is often driven to succeed by low self-esteem and constant need for approval.
If you pursue perfection, you are likely to try very hard at all that you do. You will hold yourself to the highest standards and strive for the best possible outcome in everything you do. You probably work extremely hard to ensure you get good results and those results reflect your efforts. If you are pleased with your achievements, then this is great. However, if you are self-critical or feel praise received is unjustified, then the reason for this needs to be explored. You may be suffering from imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is generally experienced by high achievers who also express perfectionistic traits. They generally feel that success isn’t deserved by them because they are less talented than others. They will fear being exposed as a fake.
If any of this sounds familiar to you, you will be all too aware of how stressful it can be. The need to be the very best cannot be ignored, but the rewards cannot be enjoyed either. The outcome of this operation of self-imposed pressure is likely to only negatively impact your enjoyment of life.
Sadly, the most common response to anxious feelings is to try even harder to achieve better results, but this simply causes the cycle to become more dangerous. If you would like help to let go of these unhelpful patterns, a hypnotherapist can help. They can help you break through the barrier that lets you think you need to achieve constantly yet not enjoy your achievements.
