ThePeopleAlchemist Edit: Be your best self - #SmashYourCeiling, change starts from within -Business & Lifestyle Experimentation for #TheWomanAlchemist

Embrace imperfection and then accept yourself is important but so stopping perfectionism damaging your self-esteem. Before you can embrace every part of yourself unconditionally. As the constant pursuit of absolute excellence, perfectionism can have a positive side, like helping to set and achieve BIG goals. However, the negative side is linked to poor body image and eating disorders, anxiety and depression.

DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF PERFECTIONISM

There are different aspects of perfectionism:

• Self-oriented perfectionism (perfectionism toward the self, e.g. "I should...")
• Other-oriented perfectionism (perfectionism toward others, e.g. "They should…")
• Social perfectionism (perfectionism that others impose on us, e.g. "Society expects that I …".).

I know, a lot of perfectionism...

IS PERFECTIONISM DAMAGING YOUR SELF-ESTEEM?

But how can you know if your perfectionism is damaging your self-esteem and self-worth? Do you recognise any of these telltale signs?

• Have unrealistically high standards (relative to others' standards)
• Base your self-worth on achieving these standards
• Feel like failing to meet your expectations much of the time
• Discount your achievements
• Negative self-talk.

That's right, I thought so too ...

HELP YOURSELF

STOP perfectionism damaging your self-esteem. Help yourself. STOP self-sabotage. Firstly, re-examine what you base your self-worth on. Secondly, don't forget you are a human being. I am stressing the word BEING here. You are not just a human-DOING. Re-learn how TO BE. Finally, and most importantly, take a break and ease off. Restore and recharge yourself. Additionally ... Accept that change won't happen overnight. You have been practising perfectionism for a lifetime. And you are learning something new. Of course, there might be relapses. Give yourself some slack! And then be the best you can be. That's all you can do at this time - being perfectly imperfect. See you tomorrow x Change starts from within; that’s why training your consciousness should be your Priority Numero 1 – a daily practice to silence your inner critic.