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Perfectionism was fundamentally defined as the reaching of the perfect life, according to philosophers and psychologists as far back as Aristotle and stretching across the times to modern day. The effects of perfectionism was said to reach all facets of life from will and mindfulness to spirituality, should the perfect life ever actually be achieved.

But sadly, you can scour the earth to the ends and you won't find Utopia; a land and society that was believed to have found, achieved and lived perfection, because it doesn't exist; it is an imagined place. Likewise, in a person's crusade to try and reach similar unreachable levels, not reaching them is failure in itself, squashing the whole idea of perfection in the first place.

Perfectionism is a sickness fueled by control. Typically, the perfectionist is the person who has limited control of the things in their life except for what they are deeply embedded in themselves. To counter balance, the perfectionist obsesses about bringing forth an outcome that is always ideal. That person will take on challenges and not only succeed, but exhaust themselves reaching a superior outcome. Whatever the challenge, to them, the outcome can not just be great, it needs to be outstanding.

The excruciatingly difficult part to curbing perfectionism is letting go; a routine event for most. But, before one can do that, they have to convince themselves that flaws are human nature and are absolutely acceptable, even in them. You have to encourage them to try and find a harmony in accepting themselves as they are; flaws and all. As you struggle with that bit of handed down wisdom, also remind them that perfection is superior above all the rest of the imperfect people in the world, and that will put them on a level only God can contend with.

Learn more about this author, Andi Bryant.
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