Can I Be Just A Little Perfect?
Posted in All Posts on 02. Feb, 2010
I am a self proclaimed “perfectionist”. But what does that even mean? Well, for me it means that every goal and accomplishment I set out to achieve, I attain it. And if I don’t? Well, no one who has to live with me or has ever lived with me wants that to happen, because when I “fail”, I continue to beat myself up over it for days, months, or even years.
At one level perfectionism can sound positive; the idea that you can get a sense of pleasure from painstaking effort. But on another level, perfectionism never allows you to feel satisfaction because it seems that things are never done well enough. And those of you that know me personally know that I take perfectionism to that whole other level.
I am a perfectionist in every aspect of my life. I must have a great career, great education, great home, great family. Not only must I have it all, but it must all be perfect and I must attain it with not a hair out of place or speckle of sweat on my brow.
And undoubtedly, my husband would say that I hold not only myself, but those around me (especially him) to impossible goals. For example, If my husband cleans up the kitchen after a meal, I don’t allow myself to enjoy in his good deed. I’m too busy thinking about all of the other things that he missed. He didn’t mop the floor. He missed a spot on the counter. He placed a measuring cup in the wrong bin. Who the heck cares about those things? I DO! Just writing this makes me think, “Do I really waste valuable time of my day and energy bothering with these insignificant details”? The answer is yes. And truth be told, I make myself physically ill worrying about those insignificant details. So perhaps this isn’t really the healthiest behavior I could be engaging in. So I’ve been trying to remind myself of a few key points:
- Whatever I achieve, it matters more that I did my best.
- My value as a person is much greater than the sum of my accomplishments.
- I don’t have to be perfect – I’m okay just the way I am.
P.S. I think we have a bigger issue now. I want to be perfect at not being perfect. How does that even work?
Oh Jes, it must be hard to be you.
Repeat this phrase often: “In the light of eternity, how much will this matter?” Gage your reactions from the answer.
Hugs.
Oh Honey I’m sorry. Just yesterday Steve was telling me he thought we had fairy’s that came in at night time and moved the dishes around after he unloads the dishwasher. Nope..its your mother… following behind and putting everything in (my) correct place.
Gosh..I dont think I’m a perfectionist but I’m very good at denial. Just remember that there are many of us who think your perfect just the way you are.
I firmly believe that it is all in my genes. So thanks mom!
Thanks so much for always reading Mindee. Hugs back to you too!
I really wish that some of your perfectionism would rub off on me. Maybe I could use some of my competitiveness and try to compete with keeping up with your perfectly clean house
Miriam´s last blog ..New Toy
On my fridge is a quote by Saint Francis of Assis (patron saint of house pets
):
“Lord, grant me the serenity to know the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
the whole “wisdom to know the difference” – that’s the kicker.
Eeekkk… my Catholicism is showing.
And that’s the most awful thing about my house. I feel that it is never clean enough! LOL! Your house is lovely by the way.
When your “Catholicism shows” is that like “excuse me miss, you have toilet paper on your shoe”?
well, you know that I am NOT a perfectionist. When it comes to the home, I go by the phrase “if you want to see me, stop on by. if you want to see the house (apt), make an appointment!” And when it comes down to it, ask yourself ‘are my thoughts, words and actions a good representation of Christ?’ – that is a big one! (PS – I’m pretty sure Jesus did not have a PERFECTLY trimmed beard and his feet were probably dirty a lot of the time)
Hi Jes… You remind me so much about myself ! I saw your blog after you made a comment to PW’s blog. And for some reason clicked on it…started reading…and read a lot ! It’s very fascinating and very real. So, I enjoyed it…and could identify with a lot… only that I am a lot older than you I think..and have had to make peace with a lot more that is not the way I intended it to be…(that is actually what my blog is about – i just started it last month). Anyway – I love the writing on your pictures and have for the longest time wanted to do that? Would you mind sharing your secret with me…as I have probably just not spend enough time figuring out how to do that?! It is fun reading your blog – I will keep doing that !
Yummy Mummy´s last blog ..April Fools….!
I don’t really do anything fancy. I use http://www.picnik.com. It is a free photo editing tool and it is easy to use. You just upload your photo, then you select the option to start “create” then select text then start typing. They have several fonts and styles to choose from. They are are awesome.