The article discusses the rising trend of perfectionism, particularly in the late 20th century, illustrating how social media has intensified this issue. It reflects on personal experiences with perfectionism in professional settings, emphasizing the disappointment that can arise when reality doesn't meet high expectations. The importance of acknowledging the distinction between excellence and perfection is highlighted, along with strategies to combat perfectionist tendencies. The author also notes the detrimental effects of this mindset on students who excel academically but struggle when faced with real-world ambiguity.
Fortunately, there are ways to address it when it sneaks up on us. I still fight it in my career, as recently as last week.
There's strong evidence that perfectionism has been rising for years across the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Social media clearly hasn't helped, but the spike started in the 1990s.
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