Perfectionism is a stable personality trait that can generally be defined as the demand of being perfect in all sorts of performance-related situations combined with the anxiety of being insufficient and the emotional belief that only perfection leads to self-acceptance described perfectionism as a personality trait which combines sub dimensions that are characterized by one’s own exceptional high standards, the attempt to be flawless and being very critical towards one’s own behaviour. Possible goals and who measure their own worth entirely in terms of productivity and accomplishment. For these people, the effort for excellence is self defeating.” A simpler definition has been offered by Horney as “the tyranny of the shoulds”, which makes the person to be highly critical of one’s own behaviour.

It is usually emphasized that perfectionism is accompanied with negative feelings of failure, procrastination, and shame, due to its underlying psychopathology. However, perfectionism has some adaptive or healthy aspects, as it promotes striving for excellence. This type of perfectionism has been named as “normal perfectionism”. People who have high performance expectations and standards without being involved in negative self appraisal are labelled as “normal” perfectionists, while those with high standards who are captured in negative self-appraisal, such as self-doubt and worrying about making mistakes, are named as “neurotic” perfectionists. Negative perfectionists have unrealistic standards and goals, because of the this, their efforts usually fail, and finally lead to anxiety, depression and feeling inadequate.
Generally, many studies had shown that negative perfectionists reported higher levels of psychological distress such as depression and anxiety, whereas positive perfectionists reported higher self-esteem than the other groups. Although much is known about the relationship between the both aspects of perfectionism with depression and anxiety separately, but a little is known about the interaction between these psychopathologies with perfectionism. The objective of the present study was to examine the cross-sectional relationships among negative and positive perfectionisms, depression, and anxiety in a school-students sample of both genders.
Link Between Perfectionism and Negative Thinking

Fear of failure and Mistakes

A core feature of perfectionism is a fear of mistakes or imperfections. The self-esteem of perfectionists appears to be bound up with flawlessness, perfectionists place a high value on error-free results. When these expectations inevitably go unmet since it's an unattainable standard - the thoughts turn negative. It becomes a great focus on what went wrong or small errors that blow errors way out of proportion. This pattern causes rumination the form of negative thinking involving repeating the same thoughts over and over again, further increasing the individual's anxiety, self-doubt, and depression.

All-or-Nothing Thinking

Perfectionists tend to think in an all-or-nothing scenario or black and white mentality. Situations are perceived in extremes: either complete success or utter failure. Where's the middle ground? Partial success? For example, a student may view a specific grade from the exam, say even an A minus, as a failure since they did not receive a perfect A. This type of thinking causes one to have a perpetual sense of inadequacy and fuels negative thoughts about oneself and one's ability.

Compulsive Self-Criticism

Perfectionists often tend to be their worst enemies. They may even criticize themselves even if they have been successful by diminishing their success and projecting small flaws or ways in which they could have done better. Chronic self-criticisms provokes feelings of worthlessness and disappointment, enforcing negative thought patterns. As time goes on, this mindset can be very damaging to self-esteem, making perfectionists believe that they will never be good enough, no matter how hard they try.

Procrastination and Avoidance

Properly understood, perfectionism can indeed lead to procrastination and avoidance. The fear of failure to meet impossible standards renders perfectionists hesitant to start a task or avoid a challenge because they would rather not try than risk imperfection. Often there's negative thinking when "lazy" or "incompetent" are hurled at the individual; this further embeds the pattern of self-doubt and negativity.

Imposter Syndrome

Perfectionists are more likely to suffer from this concept called imposter syndrome. It is a psychological problem in which people feel like imposters, although they have successfully passed through each "obstacle," overcome each "challenge," and achieved quite a bit with so-called "ease." In their views, perfectionists believe that they have indeed succeeded beyond their merits and have somehow deceived others into thinking that they are more competent than they are. This makes them feel even more terrible because perfectionists live in constant fear of being "exposed" as not good enough.
Break the cycle of overcoming perfectionism and negative thinking: Changing thought and developing healthier methods of thinking
To overcome perfectionism and negative thinking, a change in mindset is necessary. Here are some strategies to break that cycle:

Set Realistic Goals

Try setting more realistic goals that would allow flexibility to achieve the status. Hurray for the small steps too.
Practice Self-Compassion
Treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion you would extend to a friend. Remember that everyone does screw up and that imperfection is, in fact, human.

Challenge Nothing Thinking

Be aware when you are engaging in black-and-white thinking and remind yourself that most situations exist somewhere on the spectrum between black and white. Be able to acknowledge partial successes and improve without only dwelling on the outcomes.

Focus on Growth, Not Perfection

Do not aim to be perfect but to develop as a person. From "I must be perfect" change your mentality to "I'm learning and improving."

Learn from Failure

Do not view failure as reflecting your worth but as an opportunity to learn. You always have valuable lessons from failure that lead to improvement in succeeding.
While perfectionism pushes people toward great achievements, the darker side of this tendency often leads to a destructive cycle of unhealthy negative thinking, self-criticism, and dissatisfaction. It may be the way to improve healthy attitudes toward goals and self-worth by acknowledging the connection between perfectionism and negative thinking. Full freedom from perfectionism results in better self-acceptance, emotional well-being, and personal growth, which is the secret to having a more balanced and fulfilling life in the end.

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