Trapped by perfectionism? Mistakes offer lessons, too.
Are you trapped by perfectionism?
If so, you trip yourself up at every turn.
Finding time to address everything on your to-do list is hard enough. And if you’re also trapped by perfectionism, the difficulty is compounded (and then some). Nothing is ever good enough. So that means you never finish anything.
Never.
For many years I’ve struggled with perfectionism and the challenges it brings. And there were times when I felt trapped by the perfectionistic choices that I kept making for myself.
It’s definitely no fun, and it definitely keeps you stuck.
Trapped by Perfectionism –3 Keys
I’ve been able to dramatically reduce the time that I lose to perfectionism.
It’s been a heart-based journey getting there. And today I’m sharing with you 3 of the keys that I’ve found most helpful for getting unstuck.
1. Open to yourself:
Perfectionism is, at its core, highly self critical. Know that the root of your perfectionism lies, not in the fear that what you produce isn’t good enough; it’s the fear that YOU are not good enough. As you soften your heart to yourself and warmly accept who you are (ALL of who you are) you will feel your perfectionism starting to melt.
2. Let Validations In:
While I generally think that self-reference is the way to go, if you struggle with perfectionism, others’ assessments may be much more accurate than your own. Maintain a file of validations, compliments and thank-you’s that you have received for things that you have created or accomplished. When you doubt what you’re producing, pull out this file. Read it and really take it in. These positive messages can counteract the fear-based voice that fuels your perfectionism. Work to take this information to heart and over time you’ll learn to give yourself the positive validations that help fuel your productivity.
3. Let go Joyfully:
Think of what you make or produce as a gift being given to a loved one. Let it go with love and joy, and see how different that feels from the fear and trepidation that permeates perfectionism.
BONUS KEY: See Value of Mistakes
Instead of fearing mistakes, remind yourself that there’s plenty to learn from them. A mistake doesn’t mean the end of the world. In fact, it might be the beginning of a new one. Often important discoveries come from projects that went awry. If you’re trapped by perfectionism, you won’t see the benefits an imperfect undertaking might yield.
I hope that these keys will help get you moving productively and joyfully toward your goals. Beating perfectionism means knowing in your heart of hearts that you are plenty good enough and that what you create and offer to the world from your heart is a gift to be cherished.
So, how will you get started today?
Here’s something to help:
Perfectionism eats up the energy and undermines the confidence of countless bright, energetic, and talented people. “Why Perfectionists Aren’t Perfect: How to Overcome the Pitfalls of Perfectionism and Change Your Life for Good” puts proven, practical, heart-based time success tools into your hands. It gently steers you to a more profound understanding of your challenges and helps you unlock the door to your freedom.
With this E-Guide you engage in a process of learning that is deepening and doable and definitely within your reach. The thought-provoking strategies, tips and exercises help you discover how to:
- Recognize the messages that fuel your perfectionism,
- Create new realistic and compassionate messages to empower yourself, and
- Increase your confidence, creativity, productivity, and satisfaction.
This is an E-Guide Book youworked with. And it comes with two powerful bonuses:
- “Perfectionism and Procrastination: Untangling the Knots” is an immediately downloadable Special Report that sells separately for $9.95 — and is my gift to you! This Special Report takes you by the hand and leads you through sequenced exercises. It also includes a customizable template with concrete examples to help you solidify your learning as you deepen your understanding of yourself and your time choices.
- And in addition to this Special Report, we’ve added a 5-week e-course. You’ll receive weekly, bite-sized servings of “Why Perfectionists Aren’t Perfect” — right to your in-box.
So, are you tired of feeling like your own worst enemy? And are you ready to step away from perfectionism and free up the time and energy it’s been devouring? Then click the link below to learn more about this transformative time tool and the bonuses that come with it.
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