The Constant Pressure to Be Perfect: How to Cope and Find Relief

The weight of perfection is suffocating, constantly bearing down on me and never letting up. But through mindfulness and self-reflection, I’ve learned to navigate the overwhelming pressure and find moments of peace.

To cope with this pressure, I try to observe the situation objectively and calmly. I take a deep breath and focus on the present moment, trying to remove any excitement or drama from my analysis. Most of the time, things are under control or there is a clear solution to the problem at hand.

Journaling or writing posts like this one can also help relieve some of the pressure. It’s a matter of mind over matter - by writing about my anxiety, I can help to dissipate it.

This process of detachment and observation is a form of mindfulness. It doesn’t always feel like mindfulness when I’m sweating from the pressures of work and trying to objectively assess the situation. It feels more like a technique that should be taught in MBA programs rather than meditation retreats.

But hey, at least I’m not alone in this battle against the pressure to be perfect. We all have our own inner demons to fight and our own unique ways of coping. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll all become so zen that we can laugh in the face of perfectionism (or at least chuckle softly to ourselves). Until then, let’s keep taking deep breaths and reminding ourselves that it’s okay to be human.

—MXZ+