Now I know it sounds a bit strange but my worst problem is perfectionism. It’s only now that I have started realizing this and how it is the root cause of all my stress and anxiety. I set such tall, lofty standards for myself and feel that any less than that will fail and will be a sub-standard version of my abilities. The worst part, my standards overwhelm me so much unconsciously that I plunge into procrastination. It drives me insane.<\/p>\n
What am I, a perfectionist or a slacker? I can never answer myself without causing anxiety. It has a detrimental effect on my academics and personal life. I want to shed such tendencies. I have almost stopped studying, even though my exams are fast approaching. When I sit down with my books and learn, I end up trying to remember every small detail that others might not notice and I would, which means it takes me double the time to study a particular topic than other people. I end up distressed and pessimistic about my efficiency.<\/p>\n
Please help me.<\/p>\n\t
If success is measured by perfection, then there would be no successful person in the world, since no one is perfect. Even in the matter of religious perfection, everyone sins. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us<\/em>” (I John 1:8).<\/p>\n Yet, even without perfection people do pass tests and are successful in their careers. Therefore, perfection is not necessary for success.<\/p>\n What you need to be able to do is give the things you work on your best shot. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going<\/em>” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). It is here that you are failing because you are only willing to put in the effort if you are guaranteed perfection. You want to be able to say that good or bad, you did the best that you were able to produce and be satisfied with the outcome.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: Now I know it sounds a bit strange but my worst problem is perfectionism. It’s only now that I have started realizing this and how it is the root cause of all my stress and anxiety. I set such tall, lofty standards for myself and feel that any less than that will fail and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[56,558],"class_list":["post-38108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-perfection","tag-study"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14272,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-get-motivated\/","url_meta":{"origin":38108,"position":0},"title":"How do I get motivated?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 27, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am wondering how I can gain motivation to do things in life. I don't think I am depressed, but I often find myself not having the desire to do certain things such as setting time for prayer or Bible study (though I read the Bible every morning), or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5253,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-my-anxiety-mean-i-dont-have-a-relationship-with-jesus\/","url_meta":{"origin":38108,"position":1},"title":"Does my anxiety mean I don’t have a relationship with Jesus?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been diagnosed with clinical anxiety. I have been anxious all my life but recently it became extreme to the point of shaking and freezing. I am always asking the question \u201cWhat if and what will thus be the result of it.\u201d I am very involved in several\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":27694,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/would-you-have-any-bible-studies\/","url_meta":{"origin":38108,"position":2},"title":"Would you have any Bible studies?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 3, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Would you have any Bible studies? I went to your site and I really found myself very safe there -- not like other sites, and you are right we are to feed the soul for that is our calling before anything physical, the spiritual comes first. I have a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45406,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/am-i-ashamed-of-christ-because-it-is-hard-for-me-to-invite-strangers-to-bible-study\/","url_meta":{"origin":38108,"position":3},"title":"Am I ashamed of Christ because it is hard for me to invite strangers to Bible study?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I was hoping to get some clarification on \"shame\" as far as one's faith in Jesus goes. I was baptized last year and have been trying to obey Jesus' teachings, but have fallen short on pretty much everything! In the beginning, I dealt with a lot of worldly sorrow,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":84634,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-dont-i-feel-faith\/","url_meta":{"origin":38108,"position":4},"title":"Why don’t I feel faith?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I have a question that I really have not been able to find answers to, and I do not dare to talk to anyone about it. Several years ago, I started going to a church because I was really convinced that God was sending me to do it.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16877,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thank-you-for-the-breakdown-of-the-books-of-the-bible\/","url_meta":{"origin":38108,"position":5},"title":"Thank you for the breakdown of the books of the Bible","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: First and foremost, thank you for publishing this valuable tool for studying the books of the Bible. I've been doing some study with my parents and wanted something as a guide to breakdown each chapter and this will be a great outlook. 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