Right with you on this one, Bonnie. I have one advantage over you: I have no grandiosity when it comes to music -- but it is an endless trap for me in writing or scholarship. The reason it never arises in music is I have never had any image of myself as a great musician, and have no expectations at all of any kind. So I find it very relaxing, if frustrating. But get me onto a zillion other things, and the demons arise, howling.

My only solution in these other areas -- because perfectionism is so sneaky -- is to plunge into the very detailed hands-on work, and forget about outcomes. I have to police myself very carefully to stop thinking about goals and glory, and just enjoy the little bits as they come. Pure in the moment stuff. As soon as I head for the big picture: boom -- the larger than the average bear stuff growls!! It is not much of a solution maybe -- but it is better than the crap.

yours, Peter T.