Women are really taking center stage as leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and managers in the business world! Committed, independent and strong willed, achieving success and recognition by putting in hard work, dedication and determination. Forging their career path and navigating the workforce to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. It’s truly something to celebrate and congratulate.
What Are Perfectionist Tendencies?
Many ambitions drive and motivate someone to achieve their goals such as financial stability, security, independence, purpose, etc. For many career-driven women, under the surface there can also be a common behavioral tendency called perfectionism, helping and hindering them. It’s a learned behavior typically originating from childhood experiences with caregivers, and it can become intertwined with the drive to perform and be successful.
People with perfectionist behaviors tend to be detail-oriented and highly sought after employees, very successful in business and entrepreneurial endeavors. Striving to perform their best, with high levels of motivation and endurance. The perfectionist tendencies that can be unhealthy and cause suffering are being very critical, driven by the fear of judgment and failure, having high standards and unrealistic expectations, they put an extreme amount of pressure on themselves. Perfectionism can lead to stress, anxiety and burnout, impacting your health and well-being.
10 Signs of Perfectionism
- High standards
- Unrealistic expectations
- Critical of self + others
- Having a deep fear of judgment and failure
- Focusing on the end result instead of process
- Difficulty relaxing, physical tension in the body
- Clean, organized, structured
- Black or white/all or nothing mentality
- Self worth based on achievements + performance
- Procrastination
Having these perfectionist tendencies is like being in a pressure cooker. It’s important to have the ability to relax and know when good enough is good enough!
This takes us to the next layer that lives under perfectionism… the common core belief of not being good enough. Many highly driven professionals struggle with this issue. Even when you’re highly driven and successful, this can still live deep down inside. That feeling of never being good enough can cause you to feel like you constantly need to prove yourself. You beat yourself up emotionally by carrying an overwhelming burden of critical thoughts that lead to negative self-talk.
“Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving to be our best. Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth; it’s a shield.” –Brene Brown
How to Overcome Perfectionism
- Identify perfectionist tendencies by practicing self awareness
- Explore the core belief of not being good enough/needing to prove yourself
- Know that perfect doesn’t exist
- Allow yourself to make mistakes
- Set attainable goals
- Ask for help
- Connect with the purpose of your goals, not just the outcome
- Be gentle on yourself and practice self-compassion
- Cultivate a growth mindset (find out how here)
- Transform Negative Self Talk into Positive Affirmations
- Try Bach Flower Remedies:
- Rock Water to help with high standards and perfectionism
- Pine to help with self worth
5 Affirmations to Shift Perfectionism
- My self worth is not tied to my achievements.
- I am enough just as I am.
- I don’t have to be perfect for people to like, accept or love me.
- I am flexible and resilient.
- I am gentle with myself.
Learn more about affirmations here.
If you’re aware of having perfectionist tendencies that are causing you suffering, it can be crucial to your well being that you take a closer look at what’s motivating you and ask yourself, What’s driving my success?
Of course you can also have healthy belief systems that drive you too. But if you’re noticing these tendencies, and finding yourself stressed, anxious and putting an overwhelming amount of unnecessary pressure on yourself, it’s time to get to the root cause so you can release the pressure valve and feel more relaxed. Explore what success means to you so you can redefine it and thrive in your career and life!
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