The following is an excerpt from a devotional by Elder Cecil O. Samuelson of the Seventy, in 2002 titled, "What Does it Mean to Be Perfect?"
Doing Your Best | Perfectionism |
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You desire to give things your best efforts and are satisfied when you do. | You have a list of “shoulds” and “have to’s” and are dissatisfied even if you complete them. |
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You know it’s okay if you make a mistake. You move on and see your mistake as an opportunity for growth or learning. | Mistakes bring feelings of self-hatred. You don’t want to do anything because you are afraid of failure. |
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You want to do your personal best, and you try not to compare your achievements to those of others. You don’t need to be the best at all things. | You feel tremendous pressure to earn others’ approval. You must be the best or “perfect” in your tasks. |
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You can find joy in doing the things you love, and you can get things accomplished. | Your need to do things perfectly leads to procrastination until you have time to do it “perfectly,” and you feel driven by fear or duty instead of love. |
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Trying to do your best and perfecting yourself “line upon line” with the Savior’s help is Christ-centered because you need the Atonement. | Perfectionism is self-centered. You measure yourself against your own standards and against others’ standards, not God’s. |
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