Procrastination, Perfectionism & Pride

[StephanieC]

I’m wondering if anyone else has thoughts about the relationship among these three conditions.

I know that most often, there’s an air of perfectionism that’s the underlying cause of my procrastination, e.g., “In order to do X the **right **way, I have to Y & Z. I don’t have time to do Y and Z, so X will have to wait.”

The problem is, I really want to/need to do X! This was an issue for me in college (when planning out work to meet deadlines) and I’m seeing the same pattern of thinking now as an at home wife and mother.

Pride seems to be at the root of so many, if not all, sins. (Here’s a weblink, for further food for thought):
tanbooks.com/doct/capital_sins.htm

I see pride as a factor in my procrastination and perfectionism because I am congratulating myself for my own efforts and acheivement.

I want to learn to approach all responsibilities of my vocation in a humble way, without allowing my pride to insist that I do things in the “right” way.

Anyone care to share their thoughts on this topic?

 

[Lisa_N]

Oh heavens, same here. I read and believe that often a procrastinator is a perfectionist and is afraid of failing or failing to achieve perfection so they keep putting things off. I try to psyche myself out to quit worrying about perfection and start moving. Sometimes it works!

Honestly having some faith and putting the fear into God’s hands helps me if I’m nervous about starting a project.

Lisa N

 

[StephanieC]

It may sound funny, but I think I have a hard time putting the fear or reluctance into God’s hands when it’s with regards to a very trivial or mundane matter. But sometimes it is the most trivial stuff that I procrastinate doing!

Pride comes into play most often when I can visualize what the end result will look like; I hold myself to that standard & nothing less will suffice.

Any other thoughts out there about pride?

 

[Mom_of_one]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I have been having problems with these, as well, compounded by having ADD. I have a difficult time starting anything that takes sustained concentration. Or sustained effort. I just realized recently that pride was also an issue with me. It’s nice to know that I am not the only one struggling with this. And thanks for the link. I’m going to see if my local catholic bookstore can order this book for me.

 

[BLB_Oregon]

StephanieC:

I know that most often, there’s an air of perfectionism that’s the underlying cause of my procrastination, e.g., “In order to do X the right way, I have to Y & Z. I don’t have time to do Y and Z, so X will have to wait.”

The problem is, I really want to/need to do X! This was an issue for me in college (when planning out work to meet deadlines) and I’m seeing the same pattern of thinking now as an at home wife and mother.

Oh, yes, I have this problem. Not only what you describe, but I find that if I don’t allow so much time for X, I can comfort myself that the “lack of time” is why it didn’t turn out perfectly!

 

[StephanieC]

BLB_Oregon:

Oh, yes, I have this problem. Not only what you describe, but I find that if I don’t allow so much time for X, I can comfort myself that the “lack of time” is why it didn’t turn out perfectly!

That’s it! That’s me, too.
Now, what I’ve been thinking about more & more is, “Who am I, that I think I have to do things ‘perfectly’?” And, “Okay, so I did it ‘perfectly’…does that somehow make me a better person?”

Is my pride in my accomplishment based on how it makes me look to someone else? Or do I commit the sin of pride by then being able to say, “Yeah! I did X, Y and Z!”

There’s also that great phrase: “paralysis by analysis.”
My husband once quoted someone who said, “All too often, the enemy of good is great.”