Colorado is a haven for outdoor sports enthusiasts.  It’s woven into the culture of the front-range cities - on weekends and weekdays alike, you can reliably count on hiking trails in Golden being packed, encountering dozens of trail runners in the flatirons of Boulder, or cyclists and joggers whizzing by you on a walk through Denver’s Wash Park.  Athletes and outdoor lovers are drawn from all over the country to live in places like Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs.  Boulder county boasts at least 70 olympians live there due to the culture that is so supportive of athletics, in addition to the ability to train at high altitude.  For many people, the connection to nature and exercise is hugely beneficial for both their physical and mental health.  But sometimes, being surrounded by fellow athletes everywhere you look can bring up feelings of pressure, competition and perfectionism.  

Read on for a Denver therapist’s tips for dealing with perfectionism as an endurance athlete in Colorado.

The concept of “perfect” is usually subjective, and can be a moving target.  Striving for the perfect job, perfect partner, perfect body - who’s to say when you’ve reached it?  How can you measure these things?  Perfectionism is often rooted in the feeling of not being good enough, and desire to push yourself to work harder, try harder, exercise more, eat less, until you can achieve that feeling.  The problem is, if you are making decisions from a place of not feeling good enough, no amount of working harder or doing more is going to make you feel good enough.

The good news is, it is possible to overcome perfectionism and learn to go easier on yourself.  You can find better work/life balance, make more space for joy and connection, and feel less fearful of failure.  Read on for 5 tips for overcoming perfectionism.