A Perfectionist's Prison (Part 2): Your Body

Hello, perfectionists! Welcome back.  I'm so glad we've gathered yet again. Almost everyone here is on time... with very cute outfits and perfectly applied makeup.  And those of you who were late, I know you were just finishing that perfectly applied makeup in the car... am I right or am I right? Last week, I brought up the fact that we all deal with perfectionism in different ways, yet a majority of women (due to society pressures, need for approval, attention from guys, and yadda yadda yadda...) deal with perfectionistic attitudes towards their body image and appearance. 

Now before you go disheveling that hairstyle you spent 45 minutes fixing, hear me out.  This is one of those times when we divide hygiene, health, professionalism, artistic flare and beauty from obsessiveness, eating disorders, and overly time-consuming standards of worldly perfection.  We draw a big, fat line in the sand in our own minds as individuals.  It's about taking a minute to stop and evaluate our actions and decide which side of the line they fall on. 

"I have NOTHING to wear!" False. Yes you do.Is working out every morning just a matter of discipline and feeling healthy, or is it something you obsess over and feel like a depressed failure if you miss a day?  Do you enjoy piecing together outfits that express your personal style and personality, or are you tossing back rejected clothing options in a fit of rage every morning?  Is it fun to enhance your features with makeup, or would you have a near panic attack if the guy you liked saw you bare-faced? 

Most commonly, girls (and the U.S. population in general) have to face the discipline of losing weight for their health, but this is a self-awareness that can quickly tip you over the line into perfectionism.  Staying healthy is a much needed way to take care of our "temple," and when we aren't focused on health problems and insecurities, we can live a fuller life! But just as soon as you start obsessing, there goes that fuller life out the window! Also, keep in mind that -- even if you enjoy it and don't feel like you've crossed the line -- if you spend two hours a day on your appearance, that means you've spent the equivalent of 30 days a year in front of a mirror! I'm only saying that sometimes we make what should be an accessory of life a priority.  Have you ever heard someone at a funeral say, "Her hair just always looked SO. PERFECT. I'm really going to miss that"? No. False. No one will ever say that.

So just as mentioned in the first post, remember that perfectionism is a prison that traps you inside.  If any of your actions towards your appearance create more of a box than a FREE life, evaluate where your line is.  Enjoy letting the windows down to mess up your hair once in a while.  Also, the word on the street is... those guys who you are trying to gain their approval by looking "perfect" probably hate that kind of thing anyway.

On another note -- I want to give a shout out to my friend Blair who is cutting her hair off this Friday! She created a project called the Pixie Project to raise money for women in Africa to be rescued out of prostitution and put through a rehabilitation program.  Also, it's a statement for having to face the irrational fear of not having long hair. (Trust me... I fear this.) Check it out: "Facing fears and doing good" 

This week, try to think about everything in life that is more important that your body image or appearance. Perfectionists Anonymous will meet again next week... same time, same place.

Read more on topic of body image and appearance -- "Things I wish I knew at 15"

Comments

[Audrey]

LOVE!

[Baylee Swan]

This is very inspiring!