Are you constantly dissatisfied with everything you do?
Do you think that regardless of how hard you try, your best is never good enough?
Are you extremely judgmental towards others and have strong tendencies to be controlling?
These are just three signs of many that you may be a perfectionist. It is normal for people to want to achieve, but sometimes this can be taken to an unhealthy level if the goals that you set for yourself are unachievably high. This does not mean that an individual cannot give themselves a challenge, however, a perfectionist will generally seek to take on the most difficult tasks in a short amount of time. Many people who think about a perfectionist, they think "over achiever" and "goal oriented". The Go-Getter of life. However, there is a point where being a perfectionist can become harmful to a person's self-esteem and overall well being. Perfectionism can become a disorder if a person allows their "perfect" ways to disrupt their life. It is when they want things in life so perfect that it becomes an obsession. This form of extreme perfectionism can be harmful to one's health because it can create anxiety and depression if their goals or expectations are not reached. Also, the "perfect" expectation can destroy relationships because people who suffer from this disorder are expecting the same level of "perfect" from other people. As we all know, no one is perfect, so this unrealistic expectation instantly severs relationships with anyone who shows a hint of not measuring up to the perfectionist bar.
A person who is encountering this problem, is constantly depriving themselves of happiness because of the persistent pressure they put themselves through. Even after they may obtain the goal they originally set, they are still not happy, because they feel that they could have done better. In other words, NOTHING will ever be sufficient in the eyes of a perfectionist. Other signs that a person may be suffering from "perfectionism" includes the following:
Anyone can be at risk for becoming a perfectionist. Artists, creative people and athletes are more likely to suffer from this disorder. They also have tendencies to never ask for help, wanting everyone to perceive their lives as being, well...perfect! For additional information about this disorder and how to get help, please refer to the additional resources below.
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"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it
(Matthew 7:13-14)."
