Too many times we stop ourselves from trying something new, from going after an opportunity we want, from taking a risk to get to where we want to be because we are afraid of failure and because we are scared it won’t be perfect. I dare you to change the way you view perfection and give you permission to be imperfect. Instead of being afraid of it, look at it as a guide and a teacher. The more you do something, the more comfortable you will become with the fact that nothing will ever be perfect, so you might as well go after what you want.

Here’s the deal:  Perfectionism isn’t ambition or high standards; it’s straight-up sabotage. Let’s break it down.

Why Perfectionism is the Enemy

• The Procrastination Trap: The fear of not being “good enough” makes us not even start. That project, that conversation, that bold idea stays stuck in our heads.
• Creativity Killer: Overthinking every detail, obsessing over tiny flaws – this squashes those unique, quirky sparks that make your work, your life, you.
• Expectation Overload: Perfection is an illusion. We compare ourselves to filtered social media highlights and end up miserable because nobody’s real life looks like that.

Embracing “Good Enough”

So how do we ditch this toxic mindset? Here’s the mindset shift that’ll change your life:

• Done is better than perfect: Starting now, finishing things beats obsessing over imaginary perfection.
• Progress, not perfection: Pat yourself on the back for small victories. Did you work on that project for 10 minutes? Write two sentences? That’s progress!
• Failure = Feedback: Things didn’t turn out as planned? Awesome. Now you know what doesn’t work and what to tweak next time.

Shut Down Your Inner Perfectionist

It’s time to get a little sassy with those self-doubting thoughts:

• Shut-down phrases: “Nope, not listening to that BS today, perfectionism!”, “My ‘good enough’ is kicking ass today!”
• Your personal “good enough”: What matters for this project, at this moment? Don’t hold your grocery list to the same standard as your PhD thesis.
• Celebrate the mess: Share the in-progress photos, the scribbled mind maps, the “before” pictures. It shows the real, awesome journey.

This week, pick ONE thing where you’ll give yourself the permission to be imperfect.  Write a messy first draft, try a workout class even if you fumble the moves, have that tough conversation. Share your imperfect wins below!

The biggest thing about change is that the little action steps matter. Things are not going to change overnight and I think that’s the hardest part that we all struggle with when we want to make a change. We think once we start we are going to see results right away, and that just isn’t going to happen, so then we get discouraged and quit what we are working towards or trying to change.

I challenge you to take the next month and put action behind the change you want to make. Take small steps everyday to get closer to the goals and changes you are trying to make. Slow, steady, and consistent is the key. ❤️