Perfectionism Quotes

• The fastest way to break the cycle of perfectionism and become a fearless mother is to give up the idea of doing it perfectly - indeed to embrace uncertainty and imperfection.

  Arianna Huffington

  Mom, Mother, Wisdom

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  Perfectionism is the enemy of creation, as extreme self- solitude is the enemy of well- being.

  John Updike

  Acceptance, Self, Perfection

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  There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.

  Leonard Cohen

  Life, Motivational, Inspiring

  Song: Anthem

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• Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough - that we should try again.

  Julia Cameron

  Perfection, Trying, Quests

  Julia Cameron (2002). “The Artist's Way: 25th Anniversary Edition”, p.160, Penguin

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• Perfectionism spells paralysis.

  Winston Churchill

  Paralysis, Spells

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• Many people think of perfectionism as striving to be your best, but it is not about self-improvement; it's about earning approval and acceptance.

  Brené Brown

  Acceptance, Thinking, Self

  "Author Brené Brown Discusses Embracing Our Ordinariness". Interview with Martha Rosenberg, www.huffingtonpost.com. February 21, 2011.

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• Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

  Confucius

  Life, Success, Mistake

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• Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it.

  Anne Lamott

  Running, Fun, Writing

  Anne Lamott (2007). “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”, p.28, Anchor

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• Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it's often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis.

  Brené Brown

  Differences, Addiction, Anxiety

  "The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are". Book by Brené Brown, August 27, 2010.

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• The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement.

  George Will

  Work, Character, Perfection

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• Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing perfectly.

  Robert H. Schuller

  Life, Motivational, Positive

  Robert H. Schuller (1996). “Your Positive Plan for Love and Happiness”, Bbs Publishing Corporation

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• When perfectionism is driving us, shame is riding shotgun and fear is that annoying backseat driver!

  Brené Brown

  Riding, Driving, Annoying

  FaceBook post by Brené Brown from Jun 13, 2013

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• Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor; the enemy of the people. It will keep you insane your whole life.

  Anne Lamott

  Positive, Positivity, Voice

  Anne Lamott (2007). “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life”, p.28, Anchor

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• Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.

  Harriet B. Braiker

  Motivational, Women, Memorable

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• Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are.

  Brené Brown

  Letting Go, Thinking, Midlife

  Brené Brown (2011). “불완전함의 선물”, Cheongha/ Tsai Fong Books

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• Oh, my God. What if you wake up some day, and you're 65 or 75, and you never got your novel or memoir written; or you didn't go swimming in warm pools or oceans because your thighs were jiggly or you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It's going to break your heart. Don't let this happen.

  Anne Lamott

  Nice, Ocean, Kids

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• Insecurity's best cover is perfectionism. That's where it becomes an art form.

  Beth Moore

  Art, Insecurity, Form

  Beth Moore (2010). “So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us”, p.19, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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• Perfectionism is simply putting a limit on your future. When you have an idea of perfect in your mind, you open the door to constantly comparing what you have now with what you want. That type of self criticism is significantly deterring.

  John Eliot

  Doors, Self, Ideas

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• Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it's the thing that's really preventing us from taking flight.

  Brené Brown

  Thinking, Twenties, Shields

  "The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are". Book by Brené Brown, August 27, 2010.

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• When you strive for perfection, you compare different versions of what could be instead of being present with what is. Perfectionism is an attempt to inhabit an imaginary world in order to avoid experiencing the world in which you live.

  Gary Zukav

  Order, Perfection, Different

  FaceBook post by Gary Zukav from Mar 08, 2012

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• The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.

  Anna Quindlen

  Confidence, Letting Go, Being Yourself

  Anna Quindlen (2009). “Being Perfect”, p.15, Random House

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• Replace perfectionism with persistence. After all, in recovery and life, it's persistence that really pays off. Forget about perfection.

  Jenni Schaefer

  Recovery, Persistence, Perfection

  Jenni Schaefer (2014). “Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too”, p.16, McGraw Hill Professional

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• A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.

  John Henry Newman

  Inspirational, Inspiring, Motivational Sports

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• Strive for excellence, not perfection, because we don't live in a perfect world.

  Joyce Meyer

  Perfect, Excellence, World

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• Nothing is less efficient than perfectionism.

  Elizabeth Gilbert

  Efficient

  "Here’s How Elizabeth Gilbert (Bestselling Author of Eat, Pray, Love) Writes". Interview with Kelton Reid, www.copyblogger.com. December 12, 2013.

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