Perfectionism and Stoicism (#008)
Is Perfectionism good or bad? Both.
Perfectionism can be both a good thing and a bad thing. It is good because it encourages us to do our best and allows us to surpass ourselves. It is bad thing because - if carried out to an excessive extent - it can lead to procrastination and chronic dissatisfaction. Perfectionism is often rooted in childhood trauma, such as the feeling of having to be perfect in order to be liked. Another reason can be, for example, internal fear and the desire for maximum control.
Perfectionism and stoicism - what is the danger?
Those on a stoic journey will sooner or later face issues of resilience and the dichotomy of control. The comparison with an archer was and is often used by Stoics: the archer can do everything in his power to practice sufficiently and draw the bow correctly, but whether his arrow ultimately hits its target is beyond his actual control. The question that advanced Stoics often ask themselves is: how do I know that I have given everything? How can I be sure that I have reached my full potential and not given up prematurely? One listener asked the question this way: Is there a control mechanism in Stoicism that prevents me from falling into perfectionism?
My answer: no, you have to be this control mechanism yourself. This is especially difficult if you are either an extreme perfectionist or an extreme slacker. The bad news: these people are rarely capable of such self-control. The good news is that most people who are interested in Stoicism and this podcast tend to fall into a different category: people who strive for self-improvement and sometimes find themselves on the verge of perfectionism. The best news: there are some clear warnings and many good tips that can be used effectively to counteract the danger of becoming too perfectionistic and unhappy. More on that in the podcast itself, thanks for listening.
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