Self-love and self-expression threaten tyranny. Perfectionism threatens self-love and self-expression. 

 

Perfectionism is a demon that oppressors invoke and send out to harry everyone but themselves. The demon haunts someone until that individual sees no merit in their own accomplishments, is paralyzed by insane expectations of themselves, and loses self-worth. 

 

Exorcise yourself from the demon perfectionism: do what you can for yourself and others, even when it’s not what you wish it would be; find the merit in what you do; and embrace yourself exactly as you are.

 

Embracing yourself doesn’t mean giving up your high ideals or ongoing, concerted efforts to reach them. Embracing yourself is, in part, understanding that your ideals are ideals—they’re not always attainable—and that there’s a difference between trying hard and working yourself to the bone. Perfectionism isn’t the same as high ideals and robust attempts to live according to them. Perfectionism weakens us, limits our usefulness, and makes us miserable. 

 

Stand up for yourself: exorcise the demon.