by Dr. Shlomie Zimmerman

Perfectionism is one of the yetzer hara’s favorite weapons. R’ Frand Shlita quoted a famous aphorism at the siyum hashas - “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good.” The yetzer hara loves to motivate someone towards perfection, because that typically leads to failure and/or more misery.

It can be helpful to consciously combat perfectionism.

One method is to focus on the process of doing something rather than the results. It is also important to ensure that one’s primary motive is towards a positive goal, versus escaping the negative feelings of shame, the most common driver of perfectionism.

The yetzer hara tends to paint things in black and white or all or nothing terms. For example, it will present itself as: either I am a ba’al taavah or not, a batlan or not, etc. Such approaches are counter to truth and yiddishkeit.

One helpful method in countering the all or nothing perfectionistic approach is by making small, intentionally imperfect, goals. Such goals should have at least a 90% chance of success. That is one key to battling perfectionism and growing in a slow, steady, and healthy manner.

Taking time each day to focus on something “small,” a part of something, appreciating the “gray,” and/or the innate value of something, and enjoying the process of something, are also helpful techniques in combatting perfectionism.