Are You A Perfectionist?
Ways to Practice Mindfulness
Yoga, qi gong, tai chi, or taking a silent walk are all ways you be mindful while moving. Mindfulness is a way of life, not a mere moment in a day and there are many ways to practice.
We all know high achievers. Maybe you are a high achiever yourself. Nothing wrong with that… unless your need for achievement or perfection is driven by a fear of failure. Perfectionism is typically a learned behavior. Not to get into heavy psychology here but most perfectionism begins as a childhood response to some form of trauma (actual or perceived) and its emotional consequences. The habit of striving for perfection is typically initially triggered by a disturbing situation and the need to ease a painful emotion.
However, perfectionism isn’t about being perfect, it’s about feeling perfect. After a few decades of this sort of ingrained behavior, the brain remembers the relief that comes with striving for perfectionism and then the cycle is created.
Research shows that high levels of perfectionism are linked to a host of negative medical conditions, from eating disorders and fibromyalgia to depression and even suicide. Yet beyond medical conditions, perfectionism can lead to significant problems in your daily life, impacting everything from your productivity and work performance to your relationships and physical health. Life no longer makes you happy. You procrastinate. You avoid challenges at work because you're afraid of failure. You become overly critical to others and to yourself.
So what do you do if you find yourself in this viscous cycle and need relief?
This is where the concept of mindfulness comes in. Becoming aware of your emotions and becoming tolerant towards your emotions. Mindfulness is a daily process of developing awareness of your habits and thoughts that have been influencing each moment of your life typically with the voice of an inner critic. Using the practice of mindfulness you may be able to develop stillness in your busy mind and quiet that inner critic while increasing your self compassion and improving your life based on the fear of failure.
There are many ways to begin a practice of mindfulness. But it is a practice that takes time and commitment. Have any questions? Shoot me an email at info@susanproperyoga.com
