Excellence is an ideal worth pursuing; the achievement of high standards and continuous improvement are sources of happiness. However, excellence is not the same as perfectionism. Pursuing excellence is about “doing your best”, learning from mistakes, being flexible and feeling resilient and confident. In perfectionism, on the other hand, one must ensure perfection at all costs, no mistake can be tolerated, there is an obsession with control & details, and feelings are usually negative (anger, frustration & fear).

While pursuing high standards allows us to be more productive, organized and better prepared, when these become extreme, they end up impairing performance because they increase stress, lessen resilience and create conflicts. So, regularly celebrate your successes and learn to purposefully avoid perfectionism, by challenging your rigid thinking and defining “the best” within context.