Never good enough

by Monica Ramirez Basco

Do you feel that no matter how hard you try it is never good enough? Do you spend too much time trying to get things exactly right, in order to avoid criticism? Does it seem that at any minute people will find out you are not really what you seem to be? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be struggling with perfectionistic tendencies. These tendencies an serve a positive purpose in your life, but having extremely high standards for yourself and others, and feeling repeatedly let down when these expectations aren't met, can leave you perpetually unhappy. Few of us escape the tyranny of perfectionism, whether plagued by our own feelings of inadequacy, or living or working with someone who never seems satisfied with what we do. As psychologist and researcher Monica Ramirez Basco explains, uncontrolled perfectionism can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, fear of failure, and broken marriages and friendships. Understanding why you feel driven to get things "jus