Can someone with a strong perfectionist element to their personality be happy unless they get over the perfectionism? Perfectionism involves constant self-criticism and assessment, and thus might be incompatible with happiness in the long term.
Speaking from personal experience, I am a perfectionist and happy. I find it easy to be happy, living in a wealthy first-world democracy with a good personal standard of living. I can be dissatisfied with myself and strive to improve while being satisfied with the rest of my life. I don’t know many other perfectionists, so I can’t give a broader sample.
I am also a (usually) happy perfectionist. I achieved this through a similar approach—being dissatisfied with myself but satisfied with the rest of my situation. I do require OCD medication for this to work, though.
Speaking from personal experience, I am a perfectionist and happy. I find it easy to be happy, living in a wealthy first-world democracy with a good personal standard of living. I can be dissatisfied with myself and strive to improve while being satisfied with the rest of my life. I don’t know many other perfectionists, so I can’t give a broader sample.
I am also a (usually) happy perfectionist. I achieved this through a similar approach—being dissatisfied with myself but satisfied with the rest of my situation. I do require OCD medication for this to work, though.