Perfectionism

Yes, i am a recovering perfectionist. well, maybe not recovering. i have many years as a perfectionist, so take what i say with all authority. i am not making this up. last instance of perfectionism: Sunday, i had to tell the missionaries that they had written "olmstead" on their flyer. i did tell them that i had read it, and it was very nice, and i was sorry i was so anal (i didn't say anal to them), but to NEVER EVER EVER put an "a" in olmsted again.

Perfectionism is not all good nor all bad. it depends on the extent. for example, i can write a blog without capitalization, and it doesn't bother me. my house can get pretty messy before it must be cleaned up.

But there is a DARK SIDE to perfectionism, and i ain't kidding. sometimes Perfectionism keeps a person from trying new things, because, what if they aren't perfect on the first try. you know whom you are. sometimes, people paint a Perfectionist picture of what they could or should be, and when they turn out to be only human, they feel disgusted with themselves and shamed that others will discover that they aren't perfect. you still know whom you are.

can't we realize that we are all in a state of learning/education?? When Christ said, "Be ye therefore perfect even as I and my Father in Heaven are perfect", that he didn't mean we would achieve this Perfectionism in this life. we have to be on the path. we have to repent when we fall. we need to access the Atonement and claim its benefits for ourselves. and we have to keep trying.

Let's give ourselves a break. i feel such sorrow for people who can't admit their problems, or ask for help because the discovery that they aren't perfect is too much to admit to. (never end a sentence with a preposition). God loves us all.