Perfectionism is strongly associated with the fear of uncertainty—being a Band-Aid for it. Existentially speaking, many, if not all, of us struggle with cultivating a meaningful life. Our philosophical maps are meant to keep anxiety, regret, and emptiness at bay. We tend to create long-term goals and pursue their short-term constituents daily. It feels as though we’re engaging in meaningful work. And we often tell ourselves that perfecting a skill or art will engender unlimited success, love, and adoration.

I was asked on a recent radio interview if I believed perfectionism could be harnessed and used in smaller doses; I noted my skepticism, even though it’s obvious why people would hesitate to rid themselves of perfectionism altogether. However, once we understand why perfectionism exists in the first place, it becomes evident that perfectionism isn’t about any specific skill or activity; it’s an eraser. Perfectionism, as we meet it in treatment, is a prescription of magical pills. One pill alleviates shame. The next submerges traumatic memories. Another for the fear of regret. And the last for one’s awareness of an objectively meaningless existence. Perfectionism is........

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