Perfection

Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make yourself a happier and more productive person."
Dr. David M. Burns

Are you a perfectionist? So many people want to get everything right before they even start. Fear does lurk behind perfectionism. People think that if they don't get something perfect the first time, then other people will laugh at them and think they can't do anything properly. They are afraid of making a mistake or falling on their face. They are afraid of public embarrassment.

The truth is that making mistakes is part of being human. Everyone makes mistakes. If they didn't, they would have no way of learning what to do better next time. They would never improve. They would never grow. Mistakes are actually your friend. They are an important and necessary part of success. It is wise to expect them and plan for learning from them. Other people, if they notice your mistakes, will probably be just glad that it wasn't them who made them. They're not thinking about critisising you.

You don't have to get everything perfect. Nobody does. The important thing is to just get started, and learn from your mistakes along the way. The more you learn from your mistakes the better you will do next time. And you will be well on the way towards success.

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