Perfectionism

Here are some tidbits from the article "Unhappy? Self-Critical? Maybe You’re Just a Perfectionist":

but also suggest that perfectionism is a valuable lens through which to understand a variety of seemingly unrelated mental difficulties, from depression to compulsive behavior to addiction.

I can see how perfectionism could correlate with at least the latter two of these, and possibly the first, if the person is holding themselves up against an "ideal" self...

Unlike people given psychiatric labels, however, perfectionists neither battle stigma nor consider themselves to be somehow dysfunctional.

I would think they might battle a little stigma if they are gossipped about as being 'anal', but perfectionism would definitely seem to carry less stigma than the other mental difficulties mentioned in the first quote.

Ms. Provost said those in her program at U.C. Davis often displayed symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder — another risk for perfectionists. They couldn’t bear a messy desk. They found it nearly impossible to leave a job half-done, to do the next day. Some put in ludicrously long hours redoing tasks, chasing an ideal only they could see.

I used to have certain obsessions, like with cleaning (when I lived at home and had to do certain chores, I would be too thorough). And now I procrastinate in dealing with a certain type of task because of a certain irrational fear(s). Or are those irrational fears in combination with laziness? Procrastination and dread aren't good solutions, though; staying on top of this task and just dealing with it would be a much better solution.

The British have a saying that encourages people to show their skills while mocking the universal fear of failure: Do your worst.

If you can’t tolerate your worst, at least once in a while, how true to yourself can you be?

Doing your worst is certainly not a Biblical concept, but, I suppose it would be good for people to deal with their failures, shortcomings, and missing the mark in a way that doesn't amount to devastation or depression. But isn't it nice to know that we don't have to perfect our way into heaven.

In the hymn "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" are the lines:

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And from the song "In Christ Alone":

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

At some point, the strivings will cease...and even if they don't in this life, God is able to provide the strength, the "dews of quietness" and rest as we work.

And even if there is striving in heaven, all will be good, and the dreadfulness of seemingly unbearable tasks will no longer be present.