http://pathstoknowledge.com/1089/the-trap-of-perfectionism/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-trap-of-perfectionism Your map to happiness and personal growth Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://pathstoknowledge.com/1089/the-trap-of-perfectionism/comment-page-1/#comment-197 Reverend Keith Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:07:49 +0000 http://pathstoknowledge.com/?p=1089#comment-197 It's interesting that there seem to be several kinds of perfectionism. Yours is more inclined toward detail. Mine is more "big picture" perfectionism, for want of a better name. Before I do anything, I want the perfect system in which to fit it. Only when I know that I have the ideal model or system or big picture in which the details can fit together do I care about the details, and even then I don't care about them very much. I'm often sloppy about the details, because they are insignificant relative to my perfect "big picture". It’s interesting that there seem to be several kinds of perfectionism. Yours is more inclined toward detail. Mine is more “big picture” perfectionism, for want of a better name. Before I do anything, I want the perfect system in which to fit it. Only when I know that I have the ideal model or system or big picture in which the details can fit together do I care about the details, and even then I don’t care about them very much. I’m often sloppy about the details, because they are insignificant relative to my perfect “big picture”.

]]> http://pathstoknowledge.com/1089/the-trap-of-perfectionism/comment-page-1/#comment-436 Anonymous Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:07:00 +0000 http://pathstoknowledge.com/?p=1089#comment-436 It's interesting that there seem to be several kinds of perfectionism. Yours is more inclined toward detail. Mine is more "big picture" perfectionism, for want of a better name. Before I do anything, I want the perfect system in which to fit it. Only when I know that I have the ideal model or system or big picture in which the details can fit together do I care about the details, and even then I don't care about them very much. I'm often sloppy about the details, because they are insignificant relative to my perfect "big picture". It’s interesting that there seem to be several kinds of perfectionism. Yours is more inclined toward detail. Mine is more “big picture” perfectionism, for want of a better name. Before I do anything, I want the perfect system in which to fit it. Only when I know that I have the ideal model or system or big picture in which the details can fit together do I care about the details, and even then I don’t care about them very much. I’m often sloppy about the details, because they are insignificant relative to my perfect “big picture”.

]]> http://pathstoknowledge.com/1089/the-trap-of-perfectionism/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Deb Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:49:28 +0000 http://pathstoknowledge.com/?p=1089#comment-196 Maybe we confuse perfectionism with 'attention to detail', which on the whole is a positive. I think the difference is that perfectionism won't allow us to let something go out there until we feel it's beyond criticism - whereas attention to detail necessarily involves taking criticism on board to improve the project. I'm pretty sure my own perfectionist tendencies are rooted in an aversion to criticism, so at work I've developed the strategy of letting go something I've perfected to within an inch of its life with a nonchalant "Here's my first draft for your feedback." ... then I wait with gritted teeth ;-) Maybe we confuse perfectionism with ‘attention to detail’, which on the whole is a positive. I think the difference is that perfectionism won’t allow us to let something go out there until we feel it’s beyond criticism – whereas attention to detail necessarily involves taking criticism on board to improve the project. I’m pretty sure my own perfectionist tendencies are rooted in an aversion to criticism, so at work I’ve developed the strategy of letting go something I’ve perfected to within an inch of its life with a nonchalant “Here’s my first draft for your feedback.” … then I wait with gritted teeth

]]> http://pathstoknowledge.com/1089/the-trap-of-perfectionism/comment-page-1/#comment-435 Deb Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:49:00 +0000 http://pathstoknowledge.com/?p=1089#comment-435 Maybe we confuse perfectionism with 'attention to detail', which on the whole is a positive. I think the difference is that perfectionism won't allow us to let something go out there until we feel it's beyond criticism - whereas attention to detail necessarily involves taking criticism on board to improve the project. I'm pretty sure my own perfectionist tendencies are rooted in an aversion to criticism, so at work I've developed the strategy of letting go something I've perfected to within an inch of its life with a nonchalant "Here's my first draft for your feedback." ... then I wait with gritted teeth ;-) Maybe we confuse perfectionism with ‘attention to detail’, which on the whole is a positive. I think the difference is that perfectionism won’t allow us to let something go out there until we feel it’s beyond criticism – whereas attention to detail necessarily involves taking criticism on board to improve the project. I’m pretty sure my own perfectionist tendencies are rooted in an aversion to criticism, so at work I’ve developed the strategy of letting go something I’ve perfected to within an inch of its life with a nonchalant “Here’s my first draft for your feedback.” … then I wait with gritted teeth

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