Do you feel like you’re constantly striving to be perfect? Are you setting exceptionally high standards in every area of your life? Do you long for the perfect body, house or relationship? If so, you could find that trying to be perfect is harming your emotional and physical wellbeing.
Whilst it’s healthy to have goals and aim high, it seems that in recent years society’s lust for perfection has got out of hand. Every day, we see images of celebrities who look flawless and seem to live ‘perfect’ lives. We know it’s just an illusion and yet we still strive for perfection in our own lives, even though we don’t have a millionaire budget. We aim to be the best at work, try to be a perfect husband or wife, want to raise perfect children and try to create a perfect, spotless home.
But obtaining perfection in every area of life is impossible. And people who try to achievethese unrealistic goals can end up anxious and depressed when they fail to meet the high expectations they’ve set themselves. They may find that their relationships suffer as they try control the people around them and they can feel like a failure or out of control when things don’t turn out as they hoped.
If you find yourself constantly striving for perfection, it might be time to give yourself a break. Remember that things don’t have to be perfect all the time. For instance, it’s better to ignore the housework if it means you have more time to spend with your family. Don’t beat yourself up when you don’t achieve perfection; instead congratulate yourself on what you have achieved. Don’t be afraid to ask for help around the house or at work if you feel you’ve got too much on your plate. And remember that even those people that seem perfect on the outside, have the same insecurities as everybody else on the inside.
In some extreme cases, a desire to be perfect can lead to more serious health issues such as panic attacks, depression, eating disorders or obsessive compulsive disorders. For more information about these kinds of mental health issues, visit: www.mind.org.uk