95 per cent is well worth celebrating

Today, we are conditioned to strive constantly for a result that is better than the one before. We never stop wanting to be faster, better and more successful. But when the pressure to perform gets out of hand and we lose the ability to be satisfied with ourselves, perfectionism can quickly become a stumbling block. We lose ourselves in ever smaller details until we are more consumed by planning and analysing than by putting our intentions into action.
Stefan Dederichs knows this problem first-hand. He spent years chasing perfection before experiencing an epiphany: that the ‘only-perfect-will-do’ mindset was slowing him down and sapping his zest for life. Only by unmasking the true motives behind his perfectionism was he able to discover a truly fulfilled life. His books teaches readers to have the courage to embrace their best as good enough – and his lessons have the potential to be truly life-changing.
Your relationships with others, with yourself, with money and with your own achievements are all negatively impacted by the demand for perfection. Perhaps most importantly, this demand also risks your health – because you place yourself under stress and expose yourself to enormous pressure in order to constantly be better than before.
As such, perfectionism is no guarantee of outstanding results or superior performance. Instead, it is crucial to deploy your efforts sensibly and thoughtfully to facilitate your development and growth. Only with the courage to embrace your best as good enough can you discover a truly successful, satisfied and self-determined life.