Perfectionism is one of the most destructive habits that I have faced. It prevents you from moving forward and being happy. To overcome perfectionism you need to accept that there is no such thing as being perfect.
If every time you try something new and are never happy with the results because it’s not perfect, you stop trying and you stop aiming for new things to achieve.
Many mothers are left feeling guilty or believe they have failed their child because while other mums make motherhood look easy, they are struggling. There is no such thing as the perfect parent.
We are human and we make mistakes and they are good for us as they allow us to learn valuable lessons. The day you stop making mistakes is the day you stop learning.
Parenting is hard; it’s emotionally, physically and financially draining. Stop looking at the way others parent, the chances are they are putting on a brave face.
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” ~ Albert Einstein
How to Overcome Perfectionism
Accept that your best is good enough and while this does not mean you don’t give it your all, it allows you to feel a sense of achievement when you’re not fully happy with the outcome.
Stop comparing yourself to others, while this is human nature it’s destructive.
Start being yourself and stop pretending to be someone you’re not. If your struggling then say so, people will respect you more if you’re honest.
Never try to change yourself to fit in for others benefits. This leaves you failing drained trying to make sure the mask does not slip.
Learn to forgive yourself, let go of the past and the mistakes you made and look to the future. Remind yourself of what these mistakes taught you.
Your child sees you as perfect, when you make mistakes let your child see, it’s a great lesson for them too.
If you’re having a shouty day then say sorry and explain to your child that your feeling unhappy or stressed and always apologise. Saying sorry makes you accept the mistake and teach your child that it’s fine to not be perfect and we all make mistakes.
“It doesn’t matter if you can’t do it, what matters are you try your best” is something you may often say to your child, it’s time to start taking your own advice.
Overcome perfectionism and realise that there is no such thing as a perfect person, let alone there being a perfect way to parent.
Are you a perfectionist?
