Huffington Post | Owning Imperfection, Joanne Heyman

As women, this is a huge rule we can reframe to free ourselves, enable us to take more risks, and to allow for more learning and growth: 

We have all encountered that person who identifies their flaws as follows: “I’m a perfectionist. I can’t settle doing work that isn’t my best.” If, like us, you find this grating and just a tad disingenuous, perhaps we need to take an honest and closer look in the mirror. Research indicates that there are actually adverse effects of perfectionism, perhaps ironically including hindered performance and increased stress. We are much better off, both in terms of work-quality and our quality-of-life, when we cultivate the art of offering genuine care to a given task, even if it means feeling like we are slowing down (which we’re really not) or experimenting with an idea or strategy that may ultimately not work out. And, as any entrepreneur will advise, the path to success is paved with failures. Thus, our allergy to risking and potentially failing, all the while worshiping at the altar of perfection, may actually be hindering our health, happiness and achievement. Continue Reading…