> Also see more Perfectionism posts & articles
“I was at dance school doing about 35 hours practice a week until I was 14. Then ballet started to grate – the whole idea of trying to attain perfection started to ruin the experience.” Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”)
What’s so bad about perfection? Isn’t it what we all strive for? In her interview, excerpted [...]
Mia Wasikowska portrayed troubled, suicidal teen gymnast Sophie in the outstanding HBO psychotherapy drama series “In Treatment.”
Her work made Sophie one of the most powerful, conflicted and emotionally complex teen characters I have seen. She was both fascinating and wrenching in her distraught intensity.
In a magazine interview about her lead role in TIm Burton’s new [...]
Are actors and other performers at greater risk for body image issues and eating disorders than people who are not “in the spotlight”? Maybe.
What has interested me in this topic over the years is how many highly talented women – especially actors – have talked about having body issues and eating disorders now or in [...]
In her article, How To Stop Being So Hard On Yourself, excerpted below, expert on highly sensitive living Jenna Avery explains why sensitive people are so self-critical, and how we can stop:
Every time I work with a fellow sensitive soul, it seems like we always bump into some kind of fear or limiting belief about [...]
In her Creativity Portal article, You’re Not Mad, You’re Creative, Orna Ross invites us to rid ourselves of self-blame and criticism stemming from misunderstanding our creative abilities. With the help of an insightful self-test, we can revision our past and present experiences, and recognize, nurture and protect our gifts that may otherwise seem disruptive and [...]
It can be a delicate balancing act to actively pursue excellence without getting stymied by the often distorting idea that if it isn’t perfect, it isn’t right, so throw it out. Or at least beat yourself up because you didn’t achieve it. But is there value in the pursuit?
As Harvard professor Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D. notes [...]
The Psychology Today article, Field Guide to The Self-Doubter: Extra Credit, by Susan Pinker, excerpted below, brings insight into the thoughts and feelings many people have about being incompetent or impostors:
Not giving herself credit
Rosalyn Lang has a Ph.D. in molecular biology, has just completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University, and recently launched her own [...]
Here is a sampling from the article “Perfectionism and Depression: What to Do When Being a Perfectionist Drags You Down,” by Sedona Training Associates staff and Hale Dwoskin:
Do you ever think the following self-limiting beliefs?
* It’s not OK to make a mistake
* People will not like me if I’m not perfect
* I’ll avoid anything I [...]
“We do not fear being called meticulous, inclining as we do to the view that only the exhaustive can be truly interesting.”
— Thomas Mann, The Magic Mountain
Photo: FBI Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) in Twin Peaks (1990-1991 TV series), recording a memo about his investigations.
Concept and photo from Slaughterhouse 90210
> Related TalentDev posts: Perfectionism.
One of the many things that can fuel our sense of failure is comparing what we do and attempt to do with what others have accomplished.
J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, is, of course, a prime example of success and accomplishment.
But in this video, her Commencement Address st Harvard University, June 5, 2008, [...]
This is a poster from the movie “Closer” with Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen.
Owen has been a powerful image and personality to me in all his films I’ve seen – a mensch, someone of strong character and admirable self-assurance, someone to admire and emulate – somehow even when his character is [...]
Being perfectionistic may be an attempt to be seen as superbly competent, and it can support the pursuit of excellence, but it is ultimately futile, and we can support our personal growth if we are less driven to be perfect.
Personal growth coach Molly Gordon says in her thoughtful video that being disappointing is about “living [...]
gifted adults, perfectionism, perfectionist, dealing with perfectionism, perfectionism books
Perfectionism is often an aspect of being a gifted and multitalented person, and can be an integral strategy in the pursuit of excellence and fuel for high achievement.
But being too perfectionistic can make us feel continually dissatisfied, and even hold us back from finishing – or even [...]
A fate worse than death
Speaking in front of an audience is reportedly more fearsome than death. It doesn’t have to be a crowd – simply another person.
But an audience of any size can be helpful in encouraging our creative expression and personal development – more so if we can be relaxed and authentic.
In his article [...]
