Why Perfectionism Is Holding You Back (And How to Let It Go)
- Lisa Kelly
- Mar 5
- 2 min read
I know, I know... perfection sounds nice in theory. But perfection is the enemy of progress.
The constant pursuit of perfection is what’s actually keeping you stuck. It paralyzes you from taking action and keeps you focused on what you can’t do, rather than what you can.
Perfectionism often disguises itself as striving for excellence, but it’s really just fear in disguise. Fear of failure, fear of not being enough, fear of what people will think. The fear of doing something ‘imperfectly’ prevents us from doing anything at all.
Here’s a little secret: Good enough is actually a massive achievement.That’s right—when you show up, even if it’s not your best, you’re still winning. You’re still moving forward.
And progress, my friend, is what leads to change.
So how do we let go of perfectionism? It starts with embracing the messiness of life. Accept that you won’t have a perfect workout every day, a flawless business strategy, or a 100% on-point attitude. You don’t have to be a superstar to succeed—you just have to show up.
Action Steps You Can Start Taking to Let Go of Perfectionism:
Acknowledge when perfectionism is showing up. Is it holding you back from starting or continuing? Notice those moments.
Reframe your thoughts: Instead of thinking "I must do it perfectly," try "I will do it good enough to make progress."
Celebrate the small wins. Did you show up today? That’s a win. Did you finish a task, even if it wasn’t flawless? That’s a win.
Reflect: Think about one area of your life where perfectionism is preventing progress. What would happen if you let go of the need to be perfect in this area?
Remember, progress doesn’t look like perfection—it looks like action!
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