Excellence vs. Perfectionism
Quick question. Do you exhibit 3 or more of these traits?
- Critical of others or of yourself
- Struggle to see the big picture and get lost in the details
- Always stressed especially when others expect something of you
- Lack self-confidence
- Rarely, if ever allow yourself a sense of true accomplishment and personal reward.
If you answered “Yes” to 3 or more of these traits, you may be suffering from perfectionism. My question as you read this blog is “What is your motivation?” If you didn’t answer “Yes” to 3 or more, read on anyway to learn about what is excellence.
Below are my thoughts and excerpts taken from Jamie S. Walters article on Maintaining a Mindset of Excellence (Not Perfection)
Pursuing Excellence
Have you ever been around a person who is never satisfied until the job or “other thing” is perfect? Have you experienced a person fixated on getting the project “just right” at the expense of people’s feelings or other priorities? Are you that type of person? Perfectionism is a bad habit. It typically stems from low self-esteem or low confidence and a fear of failure. (A fear of failure stems from low confidence also.) Many are perfectionist because they are concerned more about what others might think about them versus finding out what others really think about them. Or, they are motivated that there is only ONE right answer or ONE way to do something and if not done that way, they are a failure. Both assumptions lead to a miserable way to view life.
Perfectionists are typically no fun to be around. One of my observations about a perfectionist is that they are typically not involved in self-improvement. You don’t see a perfectionist regularly challenging their own assumptions. They typically don’t read a lot on leadership, goal setting, learning how to serve others, etc. Perfectionists, in many ways, are very self-centered and can be very prideful. For if they do something wrong, their self-image or expectation is crushed. If they get things “just right’ then they can become very self-inflated… .no fun to be around either way.
True leaders focus on excellence versus perfection. Excellence focuses on the end result. “Did my action meet or satisfy or accomplish the desired goal?” I believe excellence is others focused as well as outcome focused. Perfectionists rank the particulars of the process (doing it their way) as high as the outcome. In the work environment, perfectionists typically micro-manage and focus on conformity versus allowing people to work according to their strengths.
The person concentrating on excellence has a mindset of:
- Continual growth and learning;
- Satisfaction of a job well-done and clients served;
- Flexibility and adaptability;
- Satisfaction, due to an ability to complete things and move on;
- Lower stress thanks to clarified expectations;
- Strong sense of meaningful accomplishment.
If you want to break your perfectionist perspective I encourage to work on your listening skills, learn mindfulness or meditate (I use an app called Headspace), get regular feedback from others about your work and what is enough. Read books or take a course that develops a positive attitude. Take breaks and just breathe deeply.
Choose today to be a person pursuing excellence versus perfection.
Faith
Understanding that you will never reach perfection until you reach Heaven frees you to pursuing the more important things in life. I know that God does not demand perfection from me, then I am freed to learn what God really does desire from me. But, wait! You may say “God is perfect and does demand perfection.” Or, “If God is a perfect God and requires perfection to be with Him, doesn’t that leave mankind in a quandry?”
Both are very legitimate questions and God answers those Himself in the Bible.
The reason God does not demand perfection from us is that we cannot be perfect because of sin. God had a remedy for the sin problem before He even created the world. In Ephesians 1:4 the Apostle Paul wrote that
“We are chosen to be holy and blameless (perfect) in His sight before the creation of the world.”
” But if not perfection, then what does God require?” God requires Faith – Faith in His work, His promises and His plan. His perfection, being holy and blameless is only obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. God does require perfection and Jesus met those requirements by living a perfect life then dying for the sins of the world (yours and mine). His death was to cover our imperfection. Our requirement is to have faith in the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. God says that Jesus is our substitute in meeting His requirement. With that faith, God does declare us Perfect. But only through faith, not anything you can do.
So, if God does not require perfection but my faith in Him, does he require anything else? Yes! He requires a life of continual transformation for His glory. Setting your mind and life on living for Him.
Colossians 3:1-2 says
“Since you have been raised with Christ (that is your perfection) set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
(This is the perfect Christ interceding for us to the Father. This frees our mind away from trying to be perfect in our own strength to then pursue excellence in the God’s strength.)
Living for God does not mean I don’t work hard, earn money, raise a family, have fun, travel, buy things, invest, recreat, etc. What it does mean is that in all that I do, He is my #1 priority, not pleasing myself or others as my #1 priority. I ask God “How would you have me live?” and look into His word, the Bible, to find those answers.
Also Romans 12:1-2 says
Therefore, I urge you in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but b transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Transforming your mind is living to love God and love others. “Due justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God” is what is required.
Leaders commit their life to be transformed, renewing their mind. True leaders have a mindset of continuous learning and continuous transformation to the Glory of God.
Those pursuing excellence understand that God does not require good works to please Him (we are already pleasing to Him according to Ephesians 1) but good works are to glorify Him. Good works let others know who God is. Our life of change is to be others focused. As Jesus said the greatest two commandments are to:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:30-31
Those pursuing excellence based upon faith are God focused and others focused. The first leads to the second.
