Comments on: Perfectionism – Blessing or Curse?

By: Vathani Navasothy

Vathani Navasothy — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:07:54 +0000

Dear Gary,
What an awesome topic and beautifully presented both ways..

As an eating disorder counselor, I see many of my clients struggle with striking the right balance between the Curse zone and the Blessing zone. It is an all or nothing switch that is deeply buried inside them sadly!

This balanced overview may help them give up the guilt that comes with abandoning their perfectionism when it is endrenched in their chaotic and toxic self sabbotaging behaviours ..yet help them to take on board why it serves as a tool in building up their Self worth, standards and ultimate high Self esteem!

Beautifully done Gary !

with much warm wishes
Vathani

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:54:43 +0000

I noticed my perfectionism/idealism to be a problem for me a few years ago.

I always wanted my projects to be precise, clean, easy, etc.. and ended doing NOTHING because most of the time I realized I didn’t have the necessary tools or knowledge.

It’s like my inner child would say “If my ice cream is not served on my favorite bowl, I won’t eat any ice cream”, it’s kind of stupid.

And I have observed that people that didn’t achieved perfection got real and good results. Because most of the things in life are not perfect, and yet they are seen as very good things.

So the saying “I can’t do everything, but I’m doing something” is starting to make sense to me now. It’s been hard, but I’m starting to minimize my perfectionism thoughts so I can do more things.

By: John

John — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:18:49 +0000

it is very beautiful said when we do perfect every work it will bring reward other wise it is curse.

Thank you,

God bless you

By: Dana @ Rodale.com

Dana @ Rodale.com — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:57:56 +0000

Well laid out. I think it’s valuable to recognize when perfectionism is healthy and when it’s not. Obviously in some facets of our lives, especially those in important professional situations, perfectionism is a must. Other times, it’s nice to be able to ease up!

Do you think that being a perfectionist in one area of your life often bleeds over into others? In that case, it may start to get dangerous.

Dana Blinder
Rodale Publishing

By: veenu

veenu — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:22:58 +0000

thank you Gary…I really needed this!

By: Katie Curtin

Katie Curtin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:27:01 +0000

Beautifully expressed!

As an artist and coach, I have experienced both sides of perfectionism in myself and with my clients. In beginning an art project, perfectionism can paralyze you from ever making any progress as the first paragraph you write, or the lines of the sketch get tossed or erased endlessly.

However once you’ve bounded in, willing for first pages or picture to be terribly imperfect, and if you persevere and go forward keeping your vision in mind, perfectionism aids you in the later stages. Taking all that you have gathered, you winnow out the inappropriate, the unnecessary, and the just plain bad and craft it into a work of beauty. Then, once again you must let go of your perfectionism, or you will never let the creation be born or it will be ruined by too much tinkering around.

Being attentive to a which stage your seeking of perfectionism aids you is part of the art of being an artist or being creative in any way.

By: Sandeep

Sandeep — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:57:16 +0000

Perfectionism is a blessing as long as there is balance and a positive mindset…beyond that edge it is a curse. Great post.

By: Gary Ryan Blair

Gary Ryan Blair — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:12:29 +0000

Hi Peter – thanks for the post. My objective is to show people how to raise standards and to pursue the best practices of the best performers in the world.

By: Gary Ryan Blair

Gary Ryan Blair — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:09:31 +0000

Hi Suresh – thanks for the feedback. All the best to you – Gary

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:27:18 +0000

It’s good to see some defence of perfectionism.

By: Wesam Halawani

Wesam Halawani — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:46:06 +0000

Perfectionism is the truth about things in life. It is the reality that life was made of. Look at our mother nature,it was completely and perfectly balanced the way it was made, when we humans interfered, things started going off track, only then earth started crying and screaming and continues to.

Perfectionism is in everything around us, every single day. Look at the new born, look the flowers, look at the sky, and look at you. All is perfectly made.

Perfectionism is love, passion and devotion that can’t go wrong.

Perfectionism is cure as it the power of GOD.

Perfectionism is GOD.

By: Suresh

Suresh — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:46:23 +0000

Gary:
Very well said! Enjoyed the comparison of blessing or curse!!

By: Shawn

Shawn — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:46:55 +0000

I have never been trying to be perfect in my life. Just learning what comes along with the questions that lead is the way I have lived my life. My dreams are large and it has been frustrating to find the smallest step towards them. Even if I have found that step I still don’t find it a perfect answer. There are too many variables to distort that perfection at best. Something you learn as an artist I guess. Is becoming an expert at something perfection in the eye of the beholder? Especially when that expert knows of its own flaws.

By: Val

Val — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:33:54 +0000

Perfectly said!

Thank you,

Val