Understanding Perfectionism

Perfectionism is often misunderstood as the pursuit of flawlessness, but it deeper roots in feelings of inadequacy and self-criticism. Many individuals do not enter therapy seeking help for perfectionism per se, but rather express feelings of failure and dissatisfaction with their lives. This misunderstanding is compounded by a culture that promotes over-evaluation, where self-worth becomes tied to performance, leading to an inability to feel ‘good enough.’ The discussion highlights the importance of recognizing perfectionism not as a trait of striving for excellence but as an unhealthy cycle of self-deprecation and discontent.