Many always strive for perfection in life. For someone who is Type A they will typically strive to be flawless all the time. Whereas Type B people are much more relaxed.
Perfectionism can be described as someone who sets high standards for themselves. There are two types of perfectionism. Adaptive perfectionism describes someone who is organized, strives for excellence, and has ambitious goals, while maladaptive perfectionism is someone that sets very high, flawless goals and places many demands on themselves.
Type A people typically strive to be perfect. They want everything to go how they planned out in their mind, and it can be hard for things to change for them. Many type A people set high standards for themselves making them successful. However, this can become stressful fast and create a fear of failure. For example, a student could receive a bad grade on their test, and think about it for weeks.
As a Type A person it feels good to always have a routine. In the morning, before or after school, and at night, my routine ensures that I will get to places on time. Most of the time, things do not always go the way I want them to. Not waking up to my alarm, or traffic on the way to school gives me anxiety because I have a plan in my head of how I want things to go and if they do not go that way I then become stressed.
Many Type A people find that having a plan and not waiting until the last minute to do things is what satisfies them. They make goals and plan to achieve them before a certain time. Someone who has to be on time everywhere they go and makes it a point to leave and arrive at the exact time they want.
“I feel I like and want to be productive,” junior Abby Hagastad said. “It frustrates me when people aren’t on the same pace.”
To be the one to always plan things can create pressure. When something doesn’t turn out one might like or something does not go according to plan, it can cause frustration because that certain person is used to always being in control.
However, Type B people seem more relaxed and less focused on always being perfect. It might be easier for them to make a mistake and move on faster from it.
I can also consider myself a Type B person. I like to go with the flow while with my friends. I have found plans are always bound to change, and I have become okay with that. On the weekends we never have a set plan on what we want to do when we hang, but we always end up doing something fun and enjoyable.
“I feel like I usually go with the flow, I’m not a last minute type person and I don’t stress about stuff,” junior Gabby Rowe said.
Many Type B people stay calm in situations others tend to get stressed out in. They do not want to control everything, rather go with the flow and see what happens next. They are very flexible and adjust as things happen and change. Being flexible though can lead to on the spot decisions and procrastination, but the go with the flow mindset helps them experience change and not become overwhelmed. Type B individuals usually look at the whole picture, not every little thing that may go wrong.
“My motto is, I take my job seriously without taking it too seriously,” English teacher Sarah Schoenrock said.
They can also be seen as people who lack motivation, but it shows how they balance many things like homework at the last minute and showing up at the last second ready to go, even if they have flaws, without stress and do it calmly.
Type A people are driven from high standards but always have pressure on them and always strive for perfection. Their satisfaction can be decreased when things are not perfect or do not go their way. Type B people are way more relaxed and can maintain balance if things have to change.
The strive for perfection can be found in both Type A and B personalities. It shows there is not a right way to live life and everyone does have their own way of thinking and living. But perfection is not always needed to be successful in life when you can balance things well and have a good well-being.
