Hello, I’m Tasha and I’m a Perfectionist.
It’s been nearly 4 years since I realised that I was a perfectionist – really truly realised that I was a mad, raving, it-has-to-be-perfect-or-the-world-will-end perfectionist.
And I still struggle on a daily basis.
What tipped me off to the fact?
I used to follow my Husband around the house as he vacuumed and point out small bits of fluff that he had missed.
What the?
At the time my perfectionist tendencies made themselves known, I was flat on my back (literally) with 2 bulging discs and unable to feel my right leg. Pain-killers were lollies that I swallowed every 4 hours and I was spending quite a lot of my days and nights in extreme pain.
Did I let this stop me?
Hell no! I just expected the rest of my family to step up and do what I had been doing, and (to top it all off) to my standards.
But it didn’t get done. Which is not true. It did get done – just not to my standards.
Which is when I realised that maybe… just maybe… I was setting my bar too high.
So how do you know that you might be a Perfectionist?
See if you relate to any of these signs…
1. You believe that there is only one right way to do things. And it is your way. (My way or the high-way ring any bells?.)
2. You have a critical eye and any small mistake… well, it drives you nuts. (I’ve been known to pull a piece of jewellery apart several times because it “just didn’t sit right”. A sane person would have put it down and come back to it another day.)
3. You expect perfection from others and won’t hesitate to tell them what they are doing wrong. (Umm, “Honey, you missed that bit of fluff”… yep.)
4. You’re competitive and hate to lose. (I’m not so much this one. Only when it comes to Nerf-Wars. Hate to lose Nerf-Wars.)
5. You won’t ask for help. Asking for help is seen as a weakness. And besides, no one can do the task the way you would, would they? (So totally me, and one of the first things I worked on remedying.)
I still pick up bits of fluff of the floor, but don’t hassle the Husband about it any more.
I let the kids make their own beds, and don’t come behind them and straighten up.
I ask for help, and graciously say “Thank you” when the job done – whether I think it’s done perfectly or not.
Hi, my name is Tasha and I’m a Recovering Perfectionist. I work on it daily and will continue to work on it for the rest of my life. But there is hope…..just no fluff on the floor.
Still not sure if you’re a perfectionist? Check out the Traits of a Perfectionist here.
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