Preaching perfectionism for its own sake is akin to idealistic hazing designed to override the fundamentals of human motivation and to override free will.

as a perfectionist, you define perfection as a theoretical best. That’s exactly why you are never satisfied with reality as it is. The real world—the one and only world that there is at any given point in time—always pales in comparison with a better world that you can imagine. In any

a mistake is either a mismatch of expectations or an accident. That’s all!

Thomas Hurka observes: “the perfectionist ideal is a moral ideal…it is an ideal people ought to pursue regardless of whether they now want it or would want it in hypothetical circumstances, and apart from any pleasures it may bring” (1993, 17). Restated, this means that we should strive for the sake of striving—not because it feels good, but just

you don’t like the way reality is right now, change the future. You see, acceptance isn’t approval, it’s just an acknowledgment of what is (more about this below). If you don’t acknowledge what is, what will you be improving?

As a perfectionist, you are programmed to perceive differences more than similarities. This “difference filter” tends to first bring into focus how this circle is not quite perfect or how it’s off center.

You’ve put into this game far more than you’ve gotten out of it. It’s time to toy with the idea that perfection is not only attainable but inevitable, with the idea that you are always doing your best at any given point in time and that is enough. Enjoy!

You’ve come to equate the meaning of success with “not-failure” or “un-failure.” You are either a failure or a not-failure. If that’s the meaning you assigned to the notion of success, it’s no wonder you never really feel successful. You’re only someone who once again didn’t fail. So, of course there’s never any reason to celebrate or allow

perfectionism, as the central feature of OCPD, is also characterized by such traits as excessive concern with details, an extreme devotion to work and productivity (at the expense of leisure), excessive conscientiousness, scrupulousness, thriftiness, inflexibility and rigidity in the issues of morality and ethics, reluctance to delegate tasks, and