Breaking Free from Perfectionism: The Power of Kindness and Awareness

Perfectionism is not just about aiming high. It can also lead to a lot of stress. A recent study looked at how being kind to yourself and staying aware of your thoughts can help. The study involved 154 adults. They filled out surveys about their perfectionism, self-kindness, and moods over two weeks. Researchers wanted to see how self-kindness and awareness affected the emotions of perfectionists. There are two types of perfectionism. One is about setting high standards. The other is about being too hard on yourself. The study found that people who are too hard on themselves have less self-kindness and awareness. This makes sense. If you're always criticizing yourself, it's hard to be kind or stay present.But there's good news. The study found that on days when perfectionists practiced more self-kindness and awareness, they felt better. For those who are too hard on themselves, these practices helped reduce negative feelings. For those who set high standards, these practices boosted positive feelings. It's like a toolkit for managing emotions. The study also found that different strategies work better for different types of perfectionists. For example, awareness was more helpful for reducing negative emotions in those who are too hard on themselves. Self-kindness was more helpful for boosting positive emotions in those who set high standards. It's all about finding what works for you. So, if you're a perfectionist, don't worry. Self-kindness and awareness can be powerful tools for managing your emotions. It's not about being perfect. It's about being kind to yourself.