One of the biggest reasons why many people struggle to find joy and bliss in life despite their high achievements and success is their need for perfection. Perfectionism is an incredibly concerning problem among people who avoid important moments and relationships in life in an effort to meet unrealistic standards at all times.

Whether you’re a high-achieving student in college or an outstanding employee at work, there’s a chance you may have been told to work on overcoming your perfectionism to start blending in with people and becoming a happier person in general.

The idea of overcoming perfectionism is not about losing your abilities and talents but more about making the most out of your capabilities without excessively stressing about the intricate details all the time. Sometimes it’s better to have a psychotherapist help you. Here are three ways to get started.

Make Room for Mistakes

The first step in dealing with perfectionism is ensuring that you acknowledge your mistakes and make room for them.

Whether you’re working on a project or have an important deadline coming up, learn that making mistakes is a part of life, and losing your focus to make things perfect might not end up in your favor. Mistakes provide an incredible learning opportunity that you should never miss out on.

Be Open to Criticism

Another reason why people are perfectionists is that they like to avoid getting any form of criticism. This reduces their ability to reflect on their weaknesses whenever needed. Therefore, another way of overcoming perfectionism is by being open to criticism, taking it positively, and strategizing the best ways to use it and improve yourself.

Prioritize Meaning Over Perfection

When you’re solely focused on making things perfect, you start to miss out on the meaningful aspects of what you’re engaged in. For instance, if you’re planning a date for your significant other and are focused on making every detail perfect, there’s a high chance you won’t be able to rejoice in the meaning of the occasion.

Therefore, overcoming perfectionism is all about prioritizing meaning over perfection and making the most out of it.

You can always connect with our psychotherapists at Innovative Counseling to learn more about overcoming perfectionism. We specialize in helping individuals struggling with their mental health by offering mental health teletherapy services and more. Contact us today!