Your hardest hitting efforts fall short of their expectations. Fun melts away like ice cream on a scorching afternoon when they show up. It’s too cold, or too hot for them, but rarely right. Health suffers and anxiety spikes. They’re either too old or too young, but rarely the right age for plans they’d like to make. Do you know these perfectionists? Sadly, they’re also habitually late, and often armed with excuses that could sink a ship. Does late describe you?
Simply stated, perfectionism is bad for the brain. According to Gordon Flett at York University it leaves people “unable to continue….” Would you agree? One of the chief perils of perfectionism, research shows, is its tendency to work against and undermine quality performance.
Be careful not to confuse perfect with excellent though. While it’s admirable to devote attention to details, perfection robs a brain’s passion to sustain accurate overall performance. Consider the end results and it makes sense. Excellence, is seen in great masterpieces such as Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Perfectionists, on the other hand, harbor unrealistically high standards, and then judge others for not living up to these lofty expectations. Have you seen it? 
Research increasingly points to perfectionism’s brain drain, through:
1. Procrastination – which punches against growth. According to University of Calgary researcher, Piers Steels procrastination is on the rise, as reported in the January Psychological Bulletin where Steels stated that 26% of Americans identified themselves as serious procrastinators.
The opposite is of procrastination is targeting effective ways to reboot the human brain for creative excellence.
2. Stress -increases cortisol to dangerous levels. Literally, it can shrink the human brain, lower the immune system, rob memory, and shut down creativity. Sadly, stress that comes from perfectionism, often masks as diligence, and so it’s mental toxins can go unnoticed. Stress tends to leave people fearfully limited to the foothills while more creative peers race them mentally to the peaks. What would it take to enjoy a life unhindered by perfectionism’s mental chains?
The opposite of stress is risk-taking for new approaches to the kind of creative and mind-bending performances Einstein modeled and Dr. Robyn McMaster showed it’s pool of talents.
Would you agree that perfectionism chains people to rigid routines, and imprisons them in places of fear and insecurity? If so, you’ll likely also agree that it takes courage to loosen that noose of mediocrity in favor of daring acts that draw from your unique mix of talents. Taken one step at a time, risk-taking leads to accomplishment, in spite of challenges and short-comings along the way.
Helen Keller spoke for many of us when she said:
I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.
Rather than perfect, life for Keller represented:
Either a daring adventure, or it was nothing at all.
For you? Human brains rewire for excellent adventures beyond perfectionism through risks taken on an otherwise ordinary day. How will you nudge that exciting idea you’ve been holding back, to cultivate an innovative place beyond ruts of perfectionism?
on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Hi Ellen, one of the paradoxical qualities of perfectionists is that when they put off a project, they tend to “rush” to the finish line and the results are less than pleasing.
Have you noticed that when perfectionists lead a team, they tend to work against collaboration since they seem driven to contol? When that happens, others back away from them and often do not feel motivated, energized or empowered. You can well imagine what happens from there…
You offer some excellent brain based strategies as an antidote. I’m ready for adventure – and adventure involves risks… the first steps past perfect.
Robyn McMasters last blog post..Is Your Brain in Gear at Work?
on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Thanks Robyn, for showing yet another reason that perfectionism works against good results!
I hadn’t thought of the collaboration vs control issue – but that sure makes sense, given the research here!
Can’t wait to see and share your next risks for excellence, Robyn:-)
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 3:41 am
It has indeed been my experience and observation that perfection is totally counterproductive when the time to accomplish a task is finite.
It has also been my observation that perfectionists can drive themselves and the people in their lives to nervous breakdowns. I saw this at close hand and to try and understand what it is all about, I invested in a book a while ago. “Addiction to Perfection” by Marion Woodman is a book that to start with disappointed me for being woman centric, but eventually helped me understand the immediate problem at hand. While perfectionism is only a part of the total book, the part certainly clarifies many aspects of the psychological causes for the problem.
Some times, just some times, I wish that I could be a perfectionist. These occasions are when lack of attention to detail, have caused embarrassment. Example, not filling in the amount in figures in a check. I suspect that striking a balance is needed.
rummusers last blog post..Realities Of The Past.
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 5:30 am
Good points Ramana, and yet I smiled to think that too few numbers written in a check could also be a real money saver.
On a serious note, though, you have made a great case for balance – which so often adds to mental well being. Just what many of us need to start a new day! Have a great one! Ellen
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