This is dangerous business for the psyche, which longs for any modicum of a sense of self. In fact, from a Transpersonal perspective, perfectionism is a state of nonbeing.
Wholeness is not a state of perfection. Jung taught that when we strive for perfection, we must experience and integrate perfection’s unconscious opposite—imperfection—in order to reach wholeness. We tend to think of attaining a state of wholeness as perfection, because we believe that wholeness is an ultimate state of arrival.
Society and religion teach that this unconscious opposition is evidence of our lack, evidence that we are not good people. The resulting shame reveals the shadow of perfectionism.
If wholeness is not a state of ultimate arrival, what is it?
This workshop will explore and offer to clinicians, their clients/patients, and to lay people a process through perfectionism toward wholeness.