How To Be A Perfectionist In An Imperfect World

Recently, I read this article on marriage, and for some reason, it spoke to the perfectionist in me. I am by no means looking to get married anytime soon. Have you heard about my dating woes? However, this article spoke to me because I could see myself being married to someone and still looking to be perfect. Why is being perfect the ultimate goal? What does it mean to be a perfectionist? Honestly, being a perfectionist can be ugly. I find myself comparing my experiences to others who are doing more than me. So, let me tell you about how to be a perfectionist, especially how to be a perfectionist in an imperfect world.

How To Be A Perfectionist

Burnout is so real, my friends. This burnout comes from obsessing about planning almost every facet of your life. The upside is that it can sometimes be fun. I can’t lie that I have a secret Pinterest board dedicated to my future boyfriend, engagement shower, wedding, and honeymoon. I’m not even embarrassed to admit it because that’s just what it means to be a perfectionist. The downside to being a perfectionist is letting yourself down. Letting myself down is one of the worst things for me. Sometimes it’s my fault and sometimes it’s out of my control. I have talked about why I started this blog after I graduated college. I’m incredibly happy that I did, but it came from failing myself. You see, I had a dream like many recent grads that I would get a job right after graduating and everything would be great. I graduated from a top university, had amazing internships, and studied abroad a few times. I didn’t think job searching would be a struggle, but it was!

A friend of mine always tells me that life isn’t perfect. She tells me that I can’t be perfect all the time. If you’re a perfectionist like me, you know that this is true. You understand that perfection is incredibly difficult to achieve. However, you would rather die trying to get close to that than anything else. You want to be successful, you want to reach great achievements, you want to feel that satisfaction when everything goes smoothly. It’s like a high or a drug, but to be a perfectionist, you’re always trying to plan and capture these goals. It can really become exhausting!

Do You Have To Be Perfect To Be A Perfectionist?

I suppose what I’m trying to say here is that there’s really no secret when it comes to being a perfectionist. Keeping on top of things, staying organized, and being prepared are some of the most common characteristics of a perfectionist. However, know that to be a perfectionist, it requires reminding yourself that not everything and everyone can be perfect. It especially requires you to know not to be so hard on yourself. These are just some of the hardest things when it comes to being a perfectionist. So, no, you don’t have to be perfect to be a perfectionist because we live in an imperfect world.