Perfectionism is often praised for its tendency to drive people to success. However the pursuit of flawlessness can also lead to devastating consequences. including mental breakdowns and self destruction. The film Black Swan shows Nina a ballerina fighting for the lead role in Swan Lake. Her desire to be both pure White Swan and alluring Black Swan drives her into a psychological abyss. Nina’s perfectionism leads to paranoia, hallucinations, and disintegration of her own self. The film narrates vividly how the urge for perfection not only degrades her psychological health but also isolates her from individuals around her. Instead of success making her happy, Nina’s obsession with perfectionism is what kills her. It reflects a deeper truth about perfectionism itself. At its core, perfectionism is not a healthy desire for excellence, but an obsession with flawlessness. perfectionism creates the illusion of control. People believe that if they try hard enough or do it right enough, they can avoid failure, rejection, or pain. But that isn’t the way things work. The moment something goes wrong and something always will the illusion is destroyed, often leading to panic, compulsive behavior, or despair. The perfectionist fears letting go, and that fear starts to rule every move they make. perfectionism may also lead to emotional isolation. In trying to appear perfect, perfectionists often push others away. Perfectionists are fearful of being vulnerable, unwilling to ask for help, and become excessively judgmental of Themselves.
Simone Biles is easily one of the most famous olympians of all time. Her story is another example in sports how perfectionism can be a road to distraction. In 2021 when she attended the Tokyo Olympics. She was expected to win and perform flawless. With the pressure from the world she experienced twisters during the competition. Which is when brain and the body fall out of sync in mid-air. It was devastating moment to watch. Simone made a decision that most athletes couldn’t handle to withdraw from multiple events. This moment is significant because she didn’t risk her mental and physical health in order to appear perfect. As Nina in the Black Swan, Simone was driven to meet unrealistic expectations of being perfect. Where Nina has failed by damaging herself, Simone chose mental health over medals. This decision sparked international controversy over the cost of perfectionism at elite sport. Both Black Swan and Simone Biles reveal how perfectionism can often be admired. But how it can quietly destroy a person from the inside out. These stories remind us that perfection is not the same as excellence. I define excellence has growing despite the failure, allowing yourself to make mistakes, giving your all, and most importantly being proud of your hard work.