What Is Perfectionism?

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Perfectionism is driven by a compulsive need, not genuine self-improvement.

Striving for perfection can isolate us emotionally and disconnect us from others.

There’s no final “arrival”—perfection is unattainable, and that's deeply human.

We can understand perfectionism as an attachment and a striving to be perfect. Perfectionism goes beyond endeavoring to improve. It’s driven by a compulsive need to improve and by the illusion that we can reach a flawless state of being. I mentioned to a colleague that it seems increasingly popular to believe that one’s "arrival" is imminent. He responded, “Oh no, it’s been popular for several thousand years.” Hard work and a measure of good luck may contribute to our achievements being noteworthy. However, such success does not exempt us from being imperfect.

We seem to be easily drawn to perfectionism. We even enjoy using the word perfect in casual conversation. A waiter in a restaurant says, “Perfect!” after taking my order. Thankfully, I remember that my veggie burger,........

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