Today while cleaning my room, I listened to this 2023 podcast about Perfectionism.

It was wonderfully illuminating.

The definition of “Perfectionist” from Oxford Languages is a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfection.

What perfection means seems objective but it is truly a subjective term.

Perfect to me might not be to someone else.

Whose standards are we using to gauge?

Psychologist Thomas Curran’s research on perfectionism shows that perfectionists are likely to procrastinate or give up to ward off any possibility of perceived failure. If they don’t try or put in the effort, then any failure wouldn’t be linked to them.

The adherence to their standard levels won’t allow them to be less than, as such, they opt out of certain experiences.

Having high standards doesn’t make you a perfectionist either.

There is a relational context to being a perfectionist.

It’s rather ironic that a perfectionist with their own perceived high standards look to receive feedback and validation from others.

Whereas a person with high standards would meet their own personal standards and be satisfied whether or not there is feedback on their efforts.