My boss kept pointing out things I needed to do, and I couldn't take it.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m a perfectionist, and it’s causing me a lot of stress.
I recently accepted a job that proved to be overwhelming to me. I thought I would be good at it, but I had to stretch a lot, and it just seemed like I was not doing anything right. I ended up quitting after one week. I felt like such a failure.
My boss didn’t say that I was doing a bad job, but she kept pointing out things that I needed to work on. I just couldn’t take it.
Now I am unemployed and feel like even more of a loser. How can I regain my confidence when my perfectionism is probably what landed me here in the first place?
— Crippling Perfectionism
DEAR CRIPPLING PERFECTIONISM: Give yourself credit for recognizing that you may be too much of a perfectionist.
In our culture, being a high achiever — being the best — is lauded. Know that you are not alone in your desire to do everything right and likely better than others. Know, too, that this is unhealthy and can lead to situations like you described where you feel compelled to walk away rather than face whatever situation is before you.
According to VeryWellMind.com, signs of perfectionism include: all-or-nothing thinking, being highly critical, having unrealistic standards, focusing only on unmet goals, fear of failure, procrastination, defensiveness and low self-esteem.
You can work to combat those feelings by establishing daily affirmations that speak to your talents and goodness.
Give yourself a break. Showing up and doing your best are good. And good is just fine.
You may want to see a therapist to help you navigate the current crisis and help you develop strategies for managing your expectations and outcomes.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My partner and I have been together for a few years, and I worry a lot about things going wrong.
How can I overcome my anxiety and ensure that our relationship continues to thrive?
— Worrywart
DEAR WORRYWART: Rather than focusing on what might go wrong, turn your lens on what you two can do together to fortify your relationship.
What do you like about you as a couple? What makes you happy? Choose to do more of that.
Talk to your partner about the future. What do you envision your life to be like in five years? Or 10? Notice what goals you share and what’s different. Talk about how you can work together toward collective goals. Design a plan, and work on that together.
Also, give each other space to work on individual goals that you may not share. Healthy relationships allow for each partner to grow as a person, even as the two of you grow as a couple. Making sure you both know that you are willing to allow for that space of personal expansion is important so that neither of you feels stifled.
Being proactive today about your future can help alleviate whatever concerns you are harboring. Stop worrying, and make a plan together for your life.
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
