2. Seeking perfection
“If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.”—Leo Tolstoy
In an ideal world, the pursuit of perfection would not only be noble, it would be rewarded. In the world we live in, it’s a recipe for frustration and a giant waste of time. According to psychotherapist Mel Schwartz, “The closest thing to perfection is is the ability to be fully present. Without any distracting thoughts measuring or grading ourselves, we’re free to really be in the moment. It’s in that moment that we’re truly alive. Yet, the perfectionist isn’t typically present as they’re either busy critiquing the past and replaying their every decision or worrying about their future decisions.” Know when it is time to move on and make realistic goals for outcomes. Seeking perfection will either stop you in your tracks or waste energy that could be more productively applied elsewhere.
