Are you a perfectionist?

I am Virgo and hence, that makes me a perfectionist. However, perfectionist doesn’t mean being a neat freak because I am not. I can live with mess if it means I don’t have to clear them. Yet, I have certain traits in me that many people cannot bear. My kids being the most vocal will often remind me of my bad traits. I must have things done a certain way and approach work in a methodical manner.

Now that I read about how perfectionists suffer more health problems, I am wondering if I should chill it?

Perfectionism may be an exhausting pressure-cooker, a new study shows.

The study demonstrates that in trying situations, perfectionists tend to get more stressed than people with more attainable standards.

The study comes from Swiss and German researchers including Petra Wirtz, PhD, of the clinical psychology and psychotherapy department at Switzerland’s University of Zurich.

They studied perfectionism in 50 physically and mentally healthy men who were 42 years old, on average.

(source WebMD)

I notice that recent years, after the long journey taking care of my very ill son and eventually his death and my turning to Christ, I am a much more mellowed person. Yet…there are things that are hard to shake off. Oh well, until they come up with a pill to make me less a perfectionist, I suppose I will live with this pressure cooker.