The Nirvana Fallacy How to overcome perfectionism (and take action)

The Nirvana Fallacy How to overcome perfectionism (and take action)The Nirvana Fallacy How to overcome perfectionism (and take action)If you wait for the perfect conditions, you will never get anything done Ecclesiastes 114In the early 1980s a researcher Bob Goldman began researching and conducting a study into the psychology of elite athletes. (1)As part of his research he would interview elite athletes and ask them whether they would be willing to take a drug that would guarantee them a gold medal - This welches a straightforward test but with a strange caveat.This hypothetical drug would kill them within the next 5 years.Goldman repeated his surveys bi-annually with different groups of elite athletes. By the end of his research period he accumulated and analysed the feedback.The results were astonishing.Goldman found that over 50% of the athletes had agreed to take this drug, win the Olympic gold and die within 5 years. In essence, they were willing to die in their pursuit of per fection.This human tendency to strive for perfection was well noted by one of the greatest writers of all time, Voltaire.The Nirvana FallacyIn his book La Begueule, the 18th century writer Voltaire wrote le mieux est lennemi du bien (perfect is the enemy of good).Voltaire understood that we have a tendency to look for a perfect solution and dismiss alternatives in comparison to this. Unfortunately, this perfect solution does not exist - its an illusion that this nirvana exists.This false assumption of a perfect solution is mora commonly known as - The Nirvana Fallacy.By looking for a perfect solution, we may ignore opportunities for the necessary improvements and failures required to achieve any goal. At its worst, the perfectionist mindset could completely paralyze you from getting started or even finishing a project - A classic example is famous painter and artist, Leonardo Da Vinci who took 15 years to complete the Mona Lisa Painting.You may have experienced this in your own l ife. For example, lets say you decided to launch a side-hustle geschftsleben. Youve done your market research, business plan and have the money to launch your website. Youre finally ready to launch but then after a couple of months nothing has happened.Instead of launching your business, marketing and making sales, youre still tinkering with the website, graphic design and changing details of your 50 page business plan - your pursuit of the perfect product, website and business caused inaction.This is the most damaging effect of the nirvana fallacy. It paralyzes and prevents you from trying new things, making the necessary mistakes to improve and ultimately achieving success in any endeavor.Fortunately, there are several practical strategies you can use to overcome the nirvana fallacy, stop procrastinating and begin taking productive steps towards your goals.How To Overcome Perfectionism1. Practice self-awarenessIn a recent study, the interpersonal traits of 72 executives at public and private companies were examined to determine the key to their success. The researchers discovered that the strongest predictor of overall executive success were high levels of self-awareness.(Source)By paying close attention to the thoughts that cross your mind, you can begin to change your actions.For example, if youve recently been hesitating on a writing project take inventory of the thoughts that arise anytime you sit down to write. As soon as those thoughts flash across your mind make a decision to logically challenge them and take immediate action.2. Set a deadlineThe mora time you have to complete a task, the more likely you will begin over thinking the details and looking for a perfect solution. Instead, you can simply reduce the time to deadline of the given task.For example, if you have a writing project to complete in the next 3 months simply cut the deadline in half. This will force you to simply get started and avoid obsessing over the end result.3. Build confidenc e slowly (by taking small actions)The more confidence you have, the less likely you will procrastinate or look for a perfect solution.The best way I have found to build confidence is simply by taking very small but productive steps towards your goal.For example, if your goal is to start going to the gym and lose weight, you can begin by going 10 minutes a day for the rest of week. Then next week you can then build up to 20 minutes and so on. By building this momentum of mini-wins your self-confidence will rise and taking action will be easier.But there is a catch 22.The more you hesitate and procrastinate the lower your self-confidence. This is simply because you did not accomplish what you set out to do.The lower your self-confidence the less likely you will take action and the more you will look for a perfect solution - its a destructive downward spiral and the solution is tosimply just take any action no matter how small.4. Affirmations, prayers and meditationsRegardless of your religious affiliation or beliefs, there is something very powerful about spending time daily in prayer and meditation. As a Christian, I find these combined with reading encouraging scriptures in the bible reaffirm my self-worth and remind me that its okay to take action, fail and be imperfect.If youre not Christian or religious by any means, the general takeaway is practicing daily affirmations to give yourself that confidence to take action on an imperfect solution - any affirmation will work. (3)For example, you could repeat to yourself that Its okay to fail, Failure is only feedback etc. Simply create one relevant to you and read it daily.5. Focus on contributionThis was a massive breakthrough in my personal development journey. (4)I realised that my pursuit of perfection was deeply rooted in my selfish desires for external approval and validation. By shifting my mind-set away from my selfish needs and towards being of service to and helping others, I have been able to allevia te the anxiety, fears and paralysis behind perfectionism.You can simply begin by asking yourself the following How can I impact the lives of others through what I am doing right now?By turning my attention away from myself and instead towards helping you, I spend less time thinking about the perfect solution and more time thinking of how I can solve your problems.Your TurnGrab a piece of paper. In the middle of the page write down what youve been hesitating on and looking to have perfect solution for.Divide the page into 4 sections and under each section write the followingDeadline - Write down a short time frame to complete the goalMini-Win - Write down the smallest action you can take right nowAffirmation - Write down an encouraging statement you can repeat to yourself dailyContribution - Write down how your goal will make someone else better offRemember, there is no perfect solution - in the end, you can only try your best.Make it happen today.Mayo Oshinwrites atMayoOshin.C om, where he shares ideas and proven science on building habits for greater productivity, better health and motivation to achieve your goals. To get these strategies,join his free newsletter here.This article was originally published onMayoOshin.Com