One of the first ways we can show ourselves Self-Compassion is through recognition that no one is perfect and that includes ourselves.
I do not identify as a perfectionist. However, lots of personality tests that I have taken over the years will clearly identify many veterinarians and vet techs I have worked with as perfectionists. Having a perfectionist in the workplace is often a wonderful thing. I can imagine most everyone wants the inventory tech, business manager, anesthetist, or pharmacy tech to be a perfectionist. I always have found that if anyone is given room to add finishing touches to my work they will do so. Try as I might to get things just right others often find areas to polish what I thought was finished.
I used to be jealous of perfectionists until I learned more about the beauty of not insisting on perfection. Neurosurgeons and pilots. On the surface we may believe that both of these professions require perfection. In some ways they do. The brain leaves very little room for some capillary bleeding after surgery. Landing a plane on the wrong runway is certainly less than ideal. When faced with any number of complications in surgery or difficulties with flying a plane you do not want the decision maker to be struck with analysis paralysis because they do not see the “perfect” option. There could strictly be options of less than ideal and considerably less than ideal.
As another example of perfection that resonates with me, lions. Lions do not succeed in every attempt at capturing their food. Estimates vary but on a traditional grading scale with below 60% being a failing grade many would have a failing grade and yet they generally are successful enough that we would not ever consider them to do what they do poorly.
Embrace imperfection. It’s how life is, and perhaps it should always be.