Top 5 Myths About Perfectionists You Need to Stop Believing

Perfectionism often gets romanticized as a badge of honor in our achievement-oriented world.  However, a lot of what we believe about perfectionism isn’t necessarily true or helpful.  Here are the top 5 myths I hear from my clients about perfectionists:

Myth 1: Perfectionists are detail-oriented, organized, and on top of their tasks.

While they might focus on details, perfectionists can also get pulled into the weeds and lose sight of the bigger picture.  Perfectionism is often driven by anxiety and one of the major ways that people cope with anxiety is through avoidance.  This is why a lot of perfectionists are actually big procrastinators!  Between getting bogged down in the details of things, not being able to turn something in until it’s perfect, and engaging in avoidance, perfectionists can become disorganized or miss deadlines relatively easily.

Myth 2: Perfectionists are high achieving, successful super-humans.  They can have it all!

Setting unrealistic standards fuels a cycle of self-criticism and doubt. This constant pressure leads to stress, burnout, and even depression, hindering true success and fulfillment.

Myth 3: Only overachievers struggle with perfectionism.

When we think about perfectionists, we imagine people who were at the top of their class in school; however, this is not always the case.  Perfectionism thrives in anyone regardless of status, intelligence, or success.  It can be driven by anxiety or internal/external pressures someone is experiencing.  For people with marginalized identities and experiences of oppression or discrimination, perfectionism can be a learned survival trait.

Myth 4: Perfectionism is either all good or all bad, healthy or unhealthy.

This black-and-white thinking misses the complexity of the issue.  Perfectionism can have both positive and negative aspects.  If you consider yourself a perfectionist, it’s important to examine how it helps you and whether there are aspects of this trait that hurt you or get in your way.

Myth 5: I'm stuck with being a perfectionist. It's just my personality.

Nobody is born a perfectionist; it’s a learned behavior.  With therapy and self-awareness, you can challenge negative thought patterns, strengthen your sense of self-worth, and change unhealthy behaviors to break free from perfectionism’s hold.

Are you ready to let go of the myths of perfectionism?  Reach out for help today!