Letting go of perfectionism.
Having a perfect view of ourselves or how we think life should be is a recurring theme for so many of us; whether we're new to something or well established in our career and lives, we can often tell ourselves that we could have done more, tried harder, produced better results etc.
It can show up in may ways and be difficult to define but we do know that perfectionism can push us towards incredibly (impossibly!) high standards and take the joy away from what we have already achieved.
The effort of maintaining that flawless version of ourselves can put our mental and physical wellbeing at risk as we search for that ‘perfect life’.
And really, who are we trying to impress? Is it ourselves, those around us or people we don't even know on social media. Often we only see the high-lights and best bits of those around us through social media, seeing their own version of their truth.
So, how do we manage these high expectations we have for ourselves (and sometimes of others) and work through our worries about making mistakes or feeling criticised? Changing our perspective doesn't happen over night but being curious about how things could be different is a good start.
If any of this sounds familiar, you might like to work through this mini-exercise & begin exploring how to let go of the perfectionism that gets in the way of seeing how great you are already…
Might your standards be higher than other people’s standards? If so, how?
How often are you able to meet the standards you set yourself?
How do you feel when you aren't able to meet them?
Are others able to meet the standards you set for them?
How does this impact your relationships with others?
Do your standards help, or get in the way of you achieving your goals?
What would happen if you relaxed your standards? (Benefits and costs)
What feels like a step you can take now towards a more gentle view of yourself and your efforts?
When feels like a good time, each day, to remind yourself of your achievements & general amazingness?
I hope this offers a step in the right direction if you are looking to give yourself a break this year and turn the volume down on your 'inner critic' x