As you learn the skills to adapt inwardly, to your version of success based on your values, your striving takes on more excitement, more meaning, and—most significantly—more joy. Why? As research suggests, adaptive perfectionists play to win; they’re more likely to enjoy the process because their efforts are fueled by optimism and reward seeking. Maladaptive perfectionists, on the other hand, play to not lose; they’re more likely to experience stress and worry because their efforts are fueled by fear.[21]
