Joe can spot a perfectionist across a room. The tells are physical: rigidity in the musculature, precision in how they operate, hesitation and second-guessing, stunted tones in speech. It all reduces to two things: rigidity and hesitation.
“The amount of rigidity in the musculature, the amount of precision that they operate with, how much they’re second guessing themselves, how stunted their tones are.”
This is the body’s expression of the critical parent’s voice. The muscles tighten to control, to not make a mistake. The hesitation comes from constantly checking: is this right? Will this be good enough? The spontaneity and flow that come from connection are impossible when the body is bracing against criticism.
If you want to know whether perfectionism is running you, check your body—not your thoughts.
Related Concepts
- Perfectionism is the critical parent’s voice
- Identity creates rigidity and limitation
- Binary thinking signals fear