Hidden behind Perfectionism

In my coaching course today, it was highlighted that a strength taken from the VIA Character Strengths - Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence can be overused. In fact, in can be hidden behind our perfectionistic characteristics.

I have noticed perfectionism show up when I am working on something that means something to me. This can be my website, a project for a client, or planning a child's birthday party. The feeling I get is this vision of what I want the "thing" to be and then go and research the heck out of it (hello, Love of Learning - #1 on my VIA list). It usually does well in getting me started, but sometimes - just sometimes perfectionism or my Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence turns into stagnation and inaction. I am just stuck because what I envisioned and what I think I can actually produce do not align or I see the amount of work behind achieving my vision. This can turn an ADHD brain into overwhelm.

While I know well enough that perfectionism is not in itself bad, the times I can recall when it stopped me from making progress are alive in my head. The memory to inspect and learn from in order to make progress when I am NOT making progress, so to speak.

Next time you find yourself overwhelmed because you cannot quite make it the way you'd like it, or dare I say, make it "perfect," ask yourself, can I make something good for now and come back to it when I feel that inspiration to make it better? Many times, our "good" is actually great seen from the eyes of others. And let that love for beauty and excellence find its way into other areas of your life where it blooms.