When I was younger, I would go out taking photos on my iPod Touch, not realising that I would develop this addiction to photography and the desire to create. When I got my first camera, I took thousands of photos, and would share them on social media. As the years went on and hundreds of images had been shared, I slowly became less content with them.
It's only now I'm older, I realise that I, like most social media users, became focussed on comparison and experienced a lower self-esteem as a result (mainly around recognising my self-worth as a photographer). I would see other photographers work online and would wonder why my photos weren't improving, or why others got more attention than me.
The trait of perfectionism seeps into many facets of our lives and although it's not always a bad thing, it can negatively impact our opportunities to relax or find joy in our hobbies or employment.
So how can we be satisfied with our lives, what we create, and the way we spend our free time?
Why we encounter perfectionism
You've been working on a project for two weeks, meticulously going over every detail, obsessing over getting everything perfect. You're 95% done with the project and it's due in an hour. But that 5% of incompleteness kills you. You spend the next hour panicking over how to improve your project, even though it is at the point of meeting every given target.
This relentless pursuit for flawless delivery can sometimes drive us to despise the areas of life we enjoy. The main difference between wanting to achieve high standards and perfectionism is that those with lower perfectionist tendencies will spend less time to complete a task, will question themselves less, and will find it easier to bounce back from disappointment.
Social media influences our ability to be content with our lives. This impacts the lifestyle we choose, or the things we create, as we resort to comparing to what others have or create. But perfectionism has been around for centuries, and has been academically developing since the 1960's (with references in ancient philosophy).
“When I am dead, I shall find their imperfections more bearable.” - Claude Monet on destroying his paintings, due to dissatisfaction with quality
There are three different types of perfectionist, with the most positive attributes associated with self-oriented perfectionists. Depending on the type of perfectionist, there may be differing reasons for encountering perfectionism (take the test to find out yours).
Socially prescribed perfectionists may encounter perfectionism if their desire for validation is not fulfilled. Other-oriented individuals encounter perfectionism when they see others around them are not meeting their high expectations. Self-oriented perfectionists may suffer burnout, as a result of not achieving their high expectations for perfection.
Procrastination often stems from the perfectionist tendencies associated with initially starting tasks. This occurs when wanting to avoid failure, the detrimental effects associated with high standards, or from not having the perfect environment to start. Although perfectionism may not always present itself, it may be more evident when we're looking to start a new task.
The good and the bad
Being a perfectionist isn't all bad, in fact, it is positively attributed with achieving flow, inspiring others to achieve high standards, sleeping better (based on a study completed on adolescents) and conscientiousness.
Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionists are subgroups of perfectionism and both react differently to failure. Adaptive perfectionists are more likely to react positively from failure and learn from their mistakes, whilst the maladaptive counterpart may avoid the activity altogether if they fail (or it becomes too difficult).
It is important to consider that some research indicates that where adaptive effects are accompanied by maladaptive effects, the negative impact of perfectionism often outweighs the positive.
Perfectionism is also associated with increased levels of anxiety, which can develop when we're children. Anxiety can spike as a result of having high standards, the concern over making a mistake, self-doubt, or the expectations from others.
Alternatively, being an adaptive perfectionist can be an important factor in achieving success. In positions requiring a high attention to detail, perfectionists may thrive, as they incur lower anxiety when faced with situations of distress, have greater optimism, and have less self-criticism.
Overcoming perfectionism
From a photography perspective, I've come to terms with the idea that nothing is perfect the first time you create it. There will always be aspects of an image, canvas or performance that can be improved.
The first step towards overcoming perfectionism is accepting that success doesn't have to mean becoming a millionaire, a CEO, or the best photographer, artist, athlete or musician in the world. When we come to terms with the idea that we can still create, perform and live a highly meaningful life without being perfect, or by being better than anyone else, do we realise our true power.
"Perfectionists are afraid to put anything out into the world that they can't guarantee will be universally hailed as "great work." - Sean Tucker (photographer & author) in his book The Meaning in the Making
It may not even be necessary to 'overcome perfectionism', but rather a mindset change, as it's also important to consider that not all perfectionism is negative (as mentioned in the above diagram). The positive aspects of perfectionism, or adaptive perfectionists, will view setbacks more optimistically and may deal with anxiety-inducting situations more effectively.
Here are some of the ways to reframe perfectionist tendencies:
🎯 Set realistic and achievable goals (this article will help).
🏃➡️ Just start! Work for five minutes on the task you have been procrastinating, stop, and then come back to it. Slowly increase the minutes spent on the task each time.
🗣️ Embrace constructive criticism rather than reacting negatively to it.
💭 Practice self-awareness (thinking about the times you've failed and the perfectionist tendencies you exhibited)
Don't compare, but use others creativity or achievements as fuel to inspire. We often get discouraged when we see others do well - "why isn't it me?" - rather than positively using this as inspiration.
Concluding thoughts
Recognising our worth is not tied to receiving the approval from others or through the comparison of perceived perfection of others work. By accepting imperfections, we will allow ourselves to take risks, make mistakes, and continue to improve.
Progress should be the priority over perfection. Following this outlook allows us to set realistic goals, appreciate our individualistic journeys, and celebrate our achievements. When we decrease the pressure put on ourselves to be perfect, we allow for more meaningful and fulfilling experiences, both in creative outlets and in our lives as a whole.
Remember, not all perfectionism is bad. Two separate perfectionists may achieve differing levels of success depending on which type of perfectionist they are.
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