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How Do I Know if I am a Perfectionist or a High Achiever?

You’ve got a goal in mind and you work hard to get it. Because you work so hard others have called you a perfectionist or maybe you’re a self-proclaimed perfectionist.

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Perfectionists and high achievers are often closely linked and sometimes the terms are used interchangeably. However, there are some key differences between being a high achiever and a perfectionist.

But really what’s the difference and what does it all mean?

Can you be a high achiever without being a perfectionist?

In this blog, I’m explaining the difference between being a perfectionist and a high achiever.

I am an online therapist Wilmington NC and work with anxious high-achieving women and entrepreneurs in North Carolina and Maryland. I provide anxiety treatment and also treat perfectionism and burnout.

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Keep reading to learn about perfectionism and high achievers.

Perfectionist vs High Achiever

Okay, so let’s get down to it…

First, I think it’s important to be able to have a definition of these terms to help understand them a little more.

What is a perfectionist?

Someone that is considered to be a perfectionist will have a set of rules or beliefs that influence their behaviors. Most often these rules or beliefs are quite rigid and create no room for error.

Signs of perfectionism include:

Fear of failure
Procrastination
Low self-esteem
High standards and expectations of self and others
Feelings of anxiety
Need to be in control
Critical of self and others
Difficulty relaxing

What is a high achiever?

A high achiever is a person with a high motivation to succeed. Often high achievers are the folks that will go the extra mile to accomplish their goals. Signs you may be a high achiever include:

Goal focused
Motivated to succeed
Ambitious
Open to feedback
Resilient

What is the difference between being a perfectionist and a high achiever?

There are some big differences between being a high achiever and a perfectionist. Check out some of the big differences listed below.

One of the main differences between a perfectionist and a high achiever is for the perfectionist most often their “goal” is a moving target. This may mean it isn’t good enough in some capacity or consistently believing something could have been better. Whatever the end goal is, is never enough. The perfectionist is going to be highly critical of themself and may even pick out all the things that “went wrong” even if the desired goal is met.
High achievers enjoy the process of reaching the goal as well as the outcome. Even if the goal is not met, for a high achiever, knowing that they did their best is just as important.
High achievers can also handle constructive criticism and feedback from others. They can recognize this as an important piece in the growing process and learn for the future.

Can I be a high achiever and perfectionist?

Typically, you are going to fall into either one or the other category of being a perfectionist or a high achiever. This is because of some of the differences between a high achiever and a perfectionist.

A healthy high achiever can be flexible and resilient whereas a perfectionist is very rigid and self-critical.

Start Treatment for Perfectionism in Wilmington, NC at Calm Waters Counseling

Perfectionists and high achievers are always closely linked and compared. While it may seem as though there are a lot of similarities, there are some very key differences that set them apart.

Perfectionism can keep you stuck and can be harmful.