The Perfectionist Trap - Part 2

Read part 1 here.

What is perfectionism? 

A friend defined perfectionism asa constant search to fulfill an impossibly high standard.Often my impossible standard is a compilation of every good homemaker I've encountered in my entire life, either in person, books, or imagination. I compare the area another woman excels in with my area of weakness. I can't make pie crust like my mother-in-law. I didn't finish my spring cleaning like my neighbor. I can't think of fun children's projects like my friend does with her children. Instead of appreciating the strengths of other women, I beat myself up for not being the best of the best. No wonder I become discouraged!

Slowly, I have become aware of the trap of perfectionism.

• Perfectionism ensnares me when I compare myself with other homemakers (real or imagined).

• Perfectionism encourages me to procrastinate when I don't have the time, energy, or resources to do it “right."

• Perfectionism discourages me from training my children to help because they can never reach my standards.

• Perfectionism causes me to reject help from others because accepting help would expose my failure.

• Perfectionism draws my attention to what is undone, not to what I have accomplished.

• Perfectionism brings mental and physical exhaustion when I force myself to work toward impossible goals.

• Perfectionism creates irritation when people, weather, or circumstances hinder my plans.

• Perfectionism destroys the joy I find in serving my family because I'm not serving out of my love for Christ.

• Perfectionism paralyzes me when I consider a daily job not worth the effort because I'll have to wash those same dishes and pick up the toys again tomorrow.

• Perfectionism discourages me from showing hospitality, and I lose an opportunity to allow another woman to be refreshed by seeing my imperfection.

• Perfectionism destroys my relationship with my sisters-in-Christ. When I compare myself with others, I am either proud of my success or defeated by my failure, and neither promotes unity or love.

• Perfectionism often reveals pride. I am more concerned about what others think of me than what God thinks. The Bible says that pride is bondage. “Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain.” (Psalm 73:6)
  
  
  We've defined perfectionism. Maybe we have even discovered it in our own life. Next, we'll look at what to do about it.