Comments on: Choose Your Life Mondays – # 22

By: Heidi

Heidi — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:19:59 +0000

Ahhhh… squirrels. I know them. No really: http://babayagasplace.squarespace.com/heidi-musings/2009/2/13/move-over-squirrel-i-a-hummingbird-now.html

Blessings on all squirrels

Heidi’s last blog post..Babbling fool on the 83

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:44:54 +0000

Anne, I love how you stopped squirreling your husband – that is so dear to hear.

i also love your insight about “out there” vs. “in here.” It’s true, I don’t care much about out there, haven’t in awhile. I like praise as much as the next girl but I know it’s like whip cream- it only stays fresh so long and then you have to make some new.

I wonder if I do fear my own judgment? There is certainly a link between my Squirrel and my fear of not imperfection, which I had not seen before.

I shall dream on this!

By: Anne in Virginia

Anne in Virginia — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:40:58 +0000

Hi, Jen,

I had a weekend encounter with my squirrel, too, the big red greedy one with the sandy belly and loud scolding voice. It was about everything WE had to get done, so I was driving my husband, too. I caught myself and apologized. Turns out he knows all about my squirrel. I was able to tell him more clearly what I needed from him and to back off on non-essential tasks.

Perhaps one key to the difference between fear of being imperfect and perfectionism is the self-imposed Ridiculously High Standards. Perfectionists freeze because they imagine someone “out there” judging their appearance or performance. Those with the RHS malady fear their own judgment. We may look great on the outside in the areas we care about, but inside we know how far short we’ve fallen. So we keep trying to get away, to find some endeavor where we won’t find ourselves wanting. My take and oh, yes, my malady, too.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:10:00 +0000

This is such a soup of fantastically rich comments… I think we have stumbled touched felt into something subtly vastly important… the hidden depths and twists of perfectionism and fear, and how they can hide and manifest while looking NOTHING like what we think of a perfectionism… hmmm… something to write about for next post, me thinks!

By: Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome — Wed, 13 May 2009 07:10:41 +0000

I’ve always struggled to reconcile my perfectionist tendencies about my writing and my work with my complete and utter lack of perfection (nor interest in being perfect) in the rest of my life.

How can I be so different in different situations and yes, it comes down to fear. I try to be perfect in my writing and my work because they MEAN so much to me whereas the rest holds less importance.

Oh, and my relationship – but I’ve learned to not expect myself to be perfect in that as expectations of perfection lead to breakups.

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..Creativity & Paying the Bills: Dave Rhodes Interview