Hello and welcome to The Traveling Introvert. Today, I would like to talk about perfectionism. This came up a lot in the Imposter Syndrome program that I have. People were identifying the fact that perfection was holding them back or making them procrastinate or whatever it might be. And so perfectionism can be extremely harmful. So really what you need to do is embrace imperfection so you can let go of the need- the deep seated need for perfection. And perfection is a concept that so many people strive for, whether it's in their personal lives or at work. However, any pursuit of perfection is at the very least unrealistic and damaging. In fact, it is hugely important to recognize that nobody is perfect and it is okay to make mistakes and have flaws. And so many work environments don't make you feel that that is a possibility and that causes other issues.

So I want you to talk about some of the benefits of embracing imperfection. Embracing imperfection has many benefits for your cognitive and emotional wellbeing. For example, you will lower your stress and anxiety and improve relationships because you'll focus more closely on the here and now and not on the unobtainable.

Additionally, learning to live with imperfection makes you more resilient in life and your career. You'll be much more innovative if you're not always worried about what others think or whether your idea is just perfect. By understanding and accepting that nothing and no one is perfect, you can focus more on what other important things there are in life and things that are impossible, right? So recognize that perfection is unobtainable, unattainable. You can't do it. No one's perfect. No one ever will be perfect, including yourself. No matter what your other half may or may not tell you, no matter what your cat is looking at you, saying, you're perfect because you're feeding it or giving it scriptures, right? It is vital to accept that fact. Achieving perfection is an endless and futile pursuit, leading to frustration and disappointment. Now those are not positive attributes, right?

The other thing right now is social media. Stop comparing yourself to others. It is super, super easy to compare yourself to others these days, making you feel like you are not good enough. You get to curate what is in your feed on social media, on Instagram, on Facebook, on LinkedIn. You do get to curate it. You could just have a feed of fluffy cats. That is up to you. Unfortunately, comparison is often unfair and inaccurate, which leads to negative self-esteem. It's really valuable to remember that everyone has their own unique strengths and weaknesses and that being different is okay. We're not all the same. That's just an impossibility.

Practice self-compassion. Being kind to yourself is critical. When you recognize that everyone makes mistakes, it's far easier to feel that self-compassion. So instead of criticizing yourself for your imperfections, practice self-compassion and acknowledge that everyone has flaws and you can't be good at everything. And speaking of being good at everything, set realistic goals. Perfection is an unrealistic goal. Therefore, work with yourself and set more achievable objectives. By setting realistic goals, you're going to avoid that feeling of failure or not quite being good enough when you inevitably make mistakes or don't get something done the way that you wanted it done. And all of this is to say, being part of embrace yourself, embrace what is unique about you. And part of that, because we are human, is you have imperfections. It is really important to recognize that your imperfections are what makes you unique and special. Instead of trying to hide or fix your flaws, try embracing them and work with them and see them as part of who you are you are.

When you keep these ideas in your mind moving forward, you'll begin embracing your imperfections, leading to a greater sense of self-acceptance and therefore happiness. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't work on yourself by improving your skills, but you shouldn’t, and you do not need to strive for something that won't happen. Perfection, because that is a futile waste of time and effort.

Thank you for listening. This is Janice at The Career Introvert, helping you build your brand and get hired. Have a great rest of your week.