Perfectionism, Wholeness, and Hope
We’ve all felt it: the quiet, persistent voice that tells us we’re not enough. In a world of curated images, polished social media feeds, and promises that we can fix what’s “wrong” with us, it’s easy to chase an impossible ideal of perfection. And when life inevitably reminds us that we are fallible, vulnerable, and sometimes in pain, that pursuit of perfection can leave us feeling hollow, frustrated, and isolated.
Therapy Story: “I feel so behind compared to other people.”
A variant on “I should have done this by now,” this statement reminds me of Theodore Roosevelt’s quote, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Behind this statement is the concept that specific life stages are tied to specific accomplishments, and that one cannot progress beyond a certain stage unless a task or milestone has been accomplished.
Therapy Story: "My problems are not as bad as other people’s problems.”
I often hear people say things like “I hate this job, but I have to remember, a lot of people don’t have a job,” (so I shouldn’t feel this way) or “There are a lot of people that have it a lot worse than me, so I should stop complaining.”