My brilliant friend posted this comment:

“I’ve come to realize that the pursuit of perfection is a coping skill in and of itself…if I spend time trying to fix everything, organize everything, schedule everything, plan everything, control what others think of me, etc…I don’t have to look too closely at what is really bothering me.”

I never thought about the pursuit of perfection being a coping skill but I think she’s on to something!  Seeking perfectionism accomplishes two things.  One, it distracts us from the need to look inward and, two, it distracts others from looking too closely.  If everything is “perfect” we fool ourselves, and others, into thinking that we’re emotionally OK.  Too bad this seldom works long term because seeking perfectionism sets us up to fail…perfectly.