There is nothing wrong with striving to do things right and perfectly. It depends on how often you do it, when you do it, and how it works in your life in the long run.
But, what is problematic is, demanding perfectionism, which involves demanding that you are perfect and do things perfectly, otherwise, you may think of yourself as unworthy, not good enough, or a screw-up.
Those particular patterns of perfectionistic actions can generate much anxiety, depression, loneliness, and insurmountable levels of stress, even when it feels good to do things right and perfectly in the moment.
Andrew Nalband is the Chief Executive Officer at Thunk Notes, a tool for thinking and journaling.
In this conversation, Andrew genuinely and kindly shares his struggles with perfectionism, and how he skillfully manages them these days.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- The raw version of how perfectionistic actions show up
- The plus, benefits, and cons of perfectionistic actions
- How perfectionistic actions show up in all areas of life
- If-then thoughts
- How to hold our mind lightly
- The beginnings of practicing mindfulness
- How to cultivate presence in your day-to-day life
About Andrew Nalband
He is a veteran of three classes of Techstars and the former Director of User Experience at Ubersense Inc. (acquired by Hudl in August 2014). Naval has helped more than 25 companies improve their products, and has driven iPhone apps to the top of the App Store and millions of installs.
Resources
- Andrew Nalband’s App: Thunk
- Andrew Nalband’s Twitter: @nalband
- Andrew Nalband’s LinkedIn: @nalband
- Maggie Appleton’s website: https://maggieappleton.com/
- Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
- Jim Carrey quote: “If you aren’t in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty, or back to pain and regret.”
Resources from Dr. Z
- Audio-guide on perfectionism
- How to practice mindfulness on-the-go: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
