One or more of the false beliefs presented here are commonly part of the self-talk that maintain perfectionistic thinking. Often they are unconscious and unchallenged by the perfectionist and therefore continue to exert considerable influence. In pointing out each falsely assumed belief, the point is to make them conscious and to fully acknowledge that they are not true and thus should be substituted with true counterbeliefs. In this way, we can begin to dismantle the assumptions which support perfectionism. In addition, you may want to pick an affirmation from those given earlier that supports a specific true counterbelief.

False belief #1: Perfectionism means following the rules to the letter, never deviating from what you’re told. Counterbelief: It’s OK not to take things too literally; it’s OK to think for yourself and find creative solutions without relying strictly on rules and regulations.

False belief #2:1 will be punished if I don’t always try to be perfect.

Counterbelief: I will be punishing myself if I keep trying to be perfect.

False belief #3:1 ought to feel guilty if I don’t perform perfectly. Counterbelief: I need not feel guilty as long as I try my best. False belief #4: Thinking like a perfectionist makes me more perfect.

Counterbelief: Thinking like a perfectionist makes me more miserable.

False belief #5: Being critical of others helps me feel superior to them.

Counterbelief: Being critical of others only reveals my own need to feel superior to them and my underlying insecurity that goes with it. Anybody can be critical.

False belief #6: People can be as perfect as smoothly running machines.

Counterbelief: People are more like machines that continually need to be adjusted, tuned, and periodically given complete overhauls.

False belief #7: Trying to keep things frozen in a state of stability will make for a more perfect life.

Counterbelief: Without change, there would be no room for growth and new possibility.

As we all sooner or later become painfully aware, the very nature of life is constant change. According to Eastern philosophy, it is the ability to skillfully surf the waves of this ongoing change that is viewed as being in the perfect flow of life. Do you let yourself become part of this perfect flow or do you struggle to swim upstream, against the flow? Healthy striving for excellence means using all of one’s skills and talents to make creative adaptations to this ongoing flow¡ªnot struggling to fight the changing nature of life¡ªor the securities market. So traders are fond of saying: “Don’t fight the tape.”

While stability and security are legitimate and powerful needs in our life, they are only one side of the coin. We must confront our fear of the other side of the coin¡ªthe side that represents the need for new stimulation, surprise, change, and even disruption, chaos, and transformation. And, of course, part of the excitement of online trading is that it never fails to deliver all of these conditions!

One way this acceptance of change is experienced by those striving for excellence is in their ability to enjoy the process of getting to the goal, not just focusing on the goal itself. The perfectionist tends to forget that it is the process of getting there that is what creative adaptations to life are all about¡ªnot just reaching some artificial goal, which is then quickly replaced by another goal, and then another.

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