Perfectionism isn’t all bad. It may seem that way, given the negative effects it can have on a person and their life, but that’s not the case. Perfectionists share many positive traits and attributes that are highly desired and lead to success in life.
The problem occurs when these traits are taken too far and become toxic. That’s what happens in perfectionism.
Here are just a few of the positive qualities most perfectionists share.
1.) Big Dreams and Drive
Perfectionists share a passion for lofty goals and the drive to work for them. This is an incredible thing. Many people never even consider setting the kind of goals a perfectionist takes for granted. This gives perfectionists a much better chance of succeeding in life.
2.) A Desire for Excellence
There’s nothing wrong with having standards, and that’s what perfectionists excel at. (Of course, the problem occurs when they become impossible to meet, which is the downside of perfectionism.) Perfectionists often perform better and create better-end products because they have such high standards.
3.) Dedication
It’s hard to find someone more dedicated to reaching a goal or succeeding than a perfectionist. Perfectionists as a whole tend to work harder and longer than others to achieve whatever they set their minds to. They can become almost single-minded in their pursuits. The desire to achieve can move them to think outside the box, increasing the odds of success.
4.) Extra Attention to Details
The desire for perfection lends itself to paying attention to the small things, and perfectionists tend to be detail-oriented people whose sharp eyes will pick up on flaws, anomalies, and other hard-to-spot details most people miss.
5.) A Refusal to Accept Failure
Many perfectionists don’t know when to give up and even if they should. This stubbornness often leads them to achieve incredible breakthroughs in their field, whether that’s sports, science, medicine, etc.
Each of these five qualities outlined above is a good thing, and no one thinks you should give them up in your quest to overcome your perfectionism. They’re part of who you are.
Too much of a good thing becomes unhealthy, however, and your challenge as you struggle to make progress over your perfectionism is going to be to rein in the good things about being a perfectionist just enough that they are healthy and helpful rather than a problem.
You can do this! You can do just about anything you set your mind to. That’s another one of the upsides of being a perfectionist.