9) Thoughts on Perfectionism and Identity

With my art, perfectionism holds me back the most compared to everyone else. I know it isn't healthy and most likely nobody cares about what I do. I grew up being praised for what I did- anything from grades to performance, and activities. I started defining myself by them and my success. I have started to grow out of it; however, I am stuck in the mindset that if I do everything perfectly, I can avoid judgment and shame from others and figure out who I am as an individual. When in reality, perfectionism is a form of shame, and it confines me under the thought of what others think. I am stuck from finding who I truly am and being able to express myself creatively.