Perfectionism. Is it a good thing, or is it bad?
(and even now I'm plagued with the same problem mentioned above.)
Alright. Just write Rachel Bennett. Just write.
For example, these blog posts! I write it, preview it, edit it, preview it, and continue this process until I'm satisfied. THEN what usually happens is I re-read that post on my blog, and I find something else that I can add or edit! So I go back and change it! This usually happens on average a 1 - 6 times per blog. It amuses me. I guess it's just a perfectionist problem. (A very real example...I've already posted this blog post twice... or now three times, deciding I was finished, and then each time I re-read it and went back and changed it!)
It's funny, because I was mentioning this to my friend - how I'm slow to write papers because I want to get every.single.sentence.exactly.right. And he caused me to realize - I was being a perfectionist to the point that it was inhibiting and limiting me! Getting over my roadblock of halting, putting off writing, and thus leaving it until later and stressing...involves me getting over the notion that I had to be perfect! It involved me getting over the fact that no matter how much I edit, revise, add or expand, there is ALWAYS more that could be done to it! It involved me learning to just write and by doing so, different thoughts and ideas will come! Looking back and improving an already written paper is a beautiful thing. The first step is to just write it!
By all means, being a perfectionist can be a good thing...to an extent. (and by all means I am NOT perfect...my procrastinating habits can attest to that!) It can help to push me into reaching a higher level in my work and learning than I already do. But if that perfectionism causes me to stress, or causes me to hesitate doing projects and papers because of a fear of failure or reaching the level I want it to, this is when it constrains me instead of helping me reach higher heights.
I'm just glad I have the chance to learn this now, so I can be better in the future.
I know exactly how you feel! I can be the same way. I wish I had some earth shattering advice for you, but unfortunately I don't. I think one thing that has helped me though has been those times when I just didn't have time to do something perfectly, turned it in, and everything was fine. When I saw a less than perfect score coming out of the testing center and realizing that I can still get an A in the class. It sounds like you're figuring it out. Best of luck to you!
ReplyDeletei totally can relate to you! especially on the whole, when in doubt, procrastinate thing. haha obviously. look at when i am commenting :)
ReplyDelete