Curb your perfectionist streak

As well as my day job, I am also a Town Councillor and last night the Town council put on a big firework display. There were thousands more people than we expected which caused momentary friction that was dispelled immediately the show began - it was spectacular.

As people were leaving I stood on the gate saying good night and thank you. Everyone had big smiles on their faces and thanked us for such a wonderful show. After the last stragglers had left I spoke to  the people invovled in the show. They were feeling really deflated and frustrated and this carried on overnight until this morning. Their perfectionist streaks took hold and they analysed every little detail leading them to the opinion that they had failed.

Granted, yes we could have done better. But you have a choice to let this weigh you down or learn from it. They were choosing to let it weigh them down until I repeated some of the comments we had as people left.

Learning

So, when you put on a show (this could be training) you put your heart and soul into it. You plan it and know it by heart. You see all the little flaws because you are so close to it. But those on the receiving end don't see this - they only have an experience and if that is experience is good enough for them; then its good enough.

Use this knowledge to spur you on to better things next time, not to get caught in a loop of analysis that builds self-criticism and frustration.