Katharina Buczek
Sure, I got a rush when I exceeded expectations and succeeded through all of my hyper-productive tendencies. But when I made a mistake or failed, I was critical and downright self-deprecating.
But, as they always say, hindsight is 20-20. And now, I can recognize that I was the victim of toxic perfectionism from an extremely young age.
Today, I realize that this mindset and way of life were likely a product of my childhood environment– although that’s a conversation for another time.
Regardless, somewhere along the way from infancy to adolescence, I lost the ability to empathize with myself. I became my own worst critic, refusing to just go with the flow in fear of “failure.”
And the saddest part was that all of these expectations and life limitations were self-imposed.
When you are stuck in the thick of it, toxic perfectionism can be hard to acknowledge and rectify. But if you can relate to my story, then you may be your own worst villain, too.
And just in case you still aren’t sure, here are a few more key signs that you might be a victim of your own toxic perfectionism.
1. You Set Completely Unrealistic Goals
Have you ever signed up for 25 credits in college, wanted to lose 15 pounds in a month, or tried to complete various books in just one week?
I’m not saying all of these goals are necessarily impossible. But they are a surefire way to burn you out and are usually not sought after by people who aren’t toxic perfectionists.
That’s because, when it comes down to it, “life happens.” Sure, you might be able to time-block your schedule to sufficiently complete course requirements and study for exams. But what happens when you have a birthday party or get sick?
