"To get ahead in this world, don't we need a little bit of perfectionism?" As someone who has researched perfectionism for over a decade, I'm asked this question a lot. And I used to think that was true. It's hard to succeed nowadays. You've got to sacrifice yourself, keep pushing well beyond what's comfortable, and live life on your tiptoes. That's just the common things in a competitive society where there are only a few winners, I believed."要想在这个世界上出人头地，难道我们不需要一点完美主义吗？"作为一个研究完美主义超过十年的人，我经常被问到这个问题。而我过去也认为确实如此。如今要成功很难。你得牺牲自我，不断逼迫自己超越舒适区，踮着脚尖过日子。我曾相信，在一个只有少数赢家的竞争社会里，这就是常态。
Yet, research finds that perfectionism has no relationship with performance. Perfectionistic people struggle really hard, but they're no more likely to be successful. One reason is that perfectionistic people work hard but unsustainably so. They often find themselves in the sapping zone and opposite returns on their efforts.然而研究发现，完美主义与表现毫无关系。完美主义者极其努力，但他们并不更可能成功。一个原因是，完美主义者努力的方式不可持续。他们常常发现自己身处"精力透支区"，努力换来的却是反向回报。
Another is that many perfectionists are world champions at self-doubt. When things get tough, when it looks like failure is heading their way, the anticipatedshame and embarrassment are so fierce that perfectionistic people are unwilling to put forth any further effort that might allow others to discover their shortcomings. So, they simply give up to avoid fears of failure, which makes failure more likely.另一个原因是，许多完美主义者是"自我怀疑"的世界冠军。当事情变得艰难、当失败似乎扑面而来时，预期中的羞耻和尴尬如此强烈，以至于完美主义者不愿再付出任何可能让别人发现自己缺点的努力。于是他们干脆放弃，以逃避对失败的恐惧——而这恰恰让失败更可能发生。
For perfectionists, dialing down goals and aiming for excellence instead doesn't usually work. On the contrary, it's important to learn to embrace the inevitability of setbacks, failures, and things not going quite as planned. It's important to be able to sit comfortably with these humanizing experiences, to let them be, and not need to drive them out of existence.对完美主义者来说，调低目标、转而追求"卓越"通常行不通。相反，重要的是学会接受挫折、失败以及事情不按计划发展的必然性。重要的是能够坦然面对这些让我们更有人情味的经历，顺其自然，不必非要把它们赶尽杀绝。
So we shouldn't struggle to be perfect because perfectionism doesn't lead to success. Instead, do recognize that learning to embrace imperfections and setbacks helps us to accept ourselves and keep moving forward.所以我们不必拼命追求完美，因为完美主义并不会通向成功。相反，要认识到学会接纳不完美和挫折，能帮助我们接纳自己、继续前行。
生词 & 短语
perfectionism /pəˈfekʃənɪzəm/ n. 完美主义高考例句：His perfectionism made him rewrite the essay many times.文中语境：don't we need a little bit of perfectionism
sacrifice /ˈsækrɪfaɪs/ v. 牺牲，献出高考例句：Many parents sacrifice their own needs for their children.文中语境：You've got to sacrifice yourself
tiptoe /ˈtɪptəʊ/ n. 脚尖高考例句：She stood on tiptoe to reach the shelf.文中语境：live life on your tiptoes
self-doubt /ˌself ˈdaʊt/ n. 自我怀疑高考例句：Overcome your self-doubt and believe in yourself.文中语境：world champions at self-doubt
anticipate /ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt/ v. 预期，预料高考例句：We anticipate that prices will rise next year.文中语境：the anticipated shame and embarrassment
shame /ʃeɪm/ n. 羞耻，羞愧高考例句：He felt great shame at having failed.文中语境：the anticipated shame and embarrassment
embarrassment /ɪmˈbærəsmənt/ n. 尴尬高考例句：She hid her face in embarrassment.文中语境：the anticipated shame and embarrassment
embrace /ɪmˈbreɪs/ v. 拥抱，欣然接受高考例句：We should embrace new technology.文中语境：learn to embrace the inevitability of setbacks
setback /ˈsetbæk/ n. 挫折，失利高考例句：Despite several setbacks, she finished the project.文中语境：the inevitability of setbacks
原文重读
"To get ahead in this world, don't we need a little bit of perfectionism?" As someone who has researched perfectionism for over a decade, I'm asked this question a lot. And I used to think that was true. It's hard to succeed nowadays. You've got to sacrifice yourself, keep pushing well beyond what's comfortable, and live life on your tiptoes. That's just the common things in a competitive society where there are only a few winners, I believed.
Yet, research finds that perfectionism has no relationship with performance. Perfectionistic people struggle really hard, but they're no more likely to be successful. One reason is that perfectionistic people work hard but unsustainably so. They often find themselves in the sapping zone and opposite returns on their efforts.
Another is that many perfectionists are world champions at self-doubt. When things get tough, when it looks like failure is heading their way, the anticipatedshame and embarrassment are so fierce that perfectionistic people are unwilling to put forth any further effort that might allow others to discover their shortcomings. So, they simply give up to avoid fears of failure, which makes failure more likely.
For perfectionists, dialing down goals and aiming for excellence instead doesn't usually work. On the contrary, it's important to learn to embrace the inevitability of setbacks, failures, and things not going quite as planned. It's important to be able to sit comfortably with these humanizing experiences, to let them be, and not need to drive them out of existence.
So we shouldn't struggle to be perfect because perfectionism doesn't lead to success. Instead, do recognize that learning to embrace imperfections and setbacks helps us to accept ourselves and keep moving forward.
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