Perfectionism is not a pathology
Perfection as we typically think about it should be treated more as a way to focus our attention rather than a final accomplishment that we attain.
Shannon Lee • Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee
perfection is an abstract concept. It takes an abstract mind to grasp its meaning and to cherish a vision that does not exist in the concrete world. Facility with abstraction is the sine qua non of giftedness; this quality differentiates the gifted from others throughout the lifespan.
Dr. Linda Silverman • Perfectionism: the Crucible of Giftedness
I believe that our creativity grows like sidewalk weeds out of the cracks between our pathologies—not from the pathologies themselves. But so many people think it’s the other way around. For this reason, you will often meet artists who deliberately cling to their suffering, their addictions, their fears, their demons. They worry that if they ever
... See moreElizabeth Gilbert • Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
The obsession with statistical norms has turned psychology into a system for pathologizing difference. Any deviation from statistical norms is labeled a "disorder." Instead of understanding the full spectrum of human experience, we rush to correct it.
This is precisely what Jung fought against.3 He saw this for what it was: not science, but... See more
This is precisely what Jung fought against.3 He saw this for what it was: not science, but... See more
Laura London • In Defense of Carl Jung: Beyond Scientific Dogma
Olympic champions, scientific breakthroughs, great works of art are all products of the perfectionistic personality gone right.
Dr. Linda Silverman • Perfectionism: the Crucible of Giftedness
is your perfectionism coming from fear or from love?
love-based perfectionism sounds like:
- "I want to make this better"
- "I can see how beautiful this could be"
- "it'd be even more fun if I could do it this way"
fear-based perfectionism sounds like:
- "I need to make this better"
- "I'm scared to put bad work into the world"
- "I'd finally feel relief... See more
love-based perfectionism sounds like:
- "I want to make this better"
- "I can see how beautiful this could be"
- "it'd be even more fun if I could do it this way"
fear-based perfectionism sounds like:
- "I need to make this better"
- "I'm scared to put bad work into the world"
- "I'd finally feel relief... See more
scott 🌞 • Tweet
Perfection: Aristotelian concept of perfection as “potential fully actualized” ; as excellence in the exercise of one’s capacities and the realization of one’s carefully chosen ideals... human beings are fully actualised when they are functioning as builders.
Gena Gorlin • The quest for psychological perfection
Perfection is a paradox—you can never become perfect, and you already are perfect. A perfectionist in an adaptive mindset believes both those statements are true. A perfectionist in a maladaptive mindset believes both those statements are false.