If I’m being honest, since I quit my job, I’ve realized that the biggest barrier in my life has always been perfectionism.
It’s something I often joke about with my friends and family, saying, “It’s ruining my life.” But deep down, it’s not a joke.
The truth is, joking about it has become a defense mechanism—a way to make it feel less heavy.
As I’ve started this new chapter, diving into entrepreneurship and building my brand, the impact of perfectionism has become glaringly obvious.
Many of the projects I’ve started over the years are unfinished, not because I lost interest, but because I felt the outcome wasn’t perfect enough.
And if it’s not perfect, why bother continuing?
This mindset has followed me everywhere, especially as I’ve worked on my blog. Before launching, I wrote over 30 blog posts, redesigned my website four times (and had enough design concepts to last a lifetime), and spent months agonizing over every detail.
Why? Because every time I hit a roadblock or something didn’t feel “perfect,” I’d spiral into self-doubt.
But then something clicked.
I started looking at other blogs—successful ones—and I noticed something. Their content wasn’t perfect. Their designs weren’t flawless. And yet, they had an audience. They were thriving.
It hit me like a ton of bricks: If they can be successful without perfection, why can’t I?
This realization didn’t immediately cure me of my perfectionism, but it gave me perspective. I’ve spent so much time being my harshest critic, unable to see the value in my work because it didn’t fit into the rigid box I’d built in my mind.
But if I can’t see my own worth, how can I expect others to see it?
I’ve come to understand that perfectionism isn’t about striving for excellence.
It’s about fear—fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of not being enough.
And this fear can be crippling. It causes intense anxiety and can paralyze you, leaving you stuck in a cycle of overthinking and inaction.
For me, perfectionism has been compounded by other challenges: managing ADHD, the overwhelming financial stress of leaving a corporate job, and raising three kids.
It’s not just about wanting things to be “just right”—it’s about my brain refusing to let them be anything else.
People often dismiss perfectionism as a quirky trait or even a compliment: “Oh, you just like things perfect!”
But it’s so much deeper than that. For me, it’s a constant mental battle. Even if someone else thinks my work is great, if I see room for improvement, it’s hard to accept it as good enough.
This mindset has made building my brand incredibly challenging.
Every minor roadblock feels monumental.
Every small imperfection feels like failure. And yet, I’m learning.
I’m learning to remind myself that progress is better than perfection.
That done is better than perfect. That putting myself out there is more important than getting everything just right.
For my fellow perfectionists, especially the creatives out there—I see you.
I know how hard it is to live with this constant pressure. But I also know that we can’t let it hold us back.
We have to learn to embrace imperfection, to see the beauty in progress, and to give ourselves the grace we so readily give to others.
So, I want to hear from you. What limiting beliefs are holding you back?
How have you learned to overcome them?
And for my fellow perfectionists, what are your tips for navigating this exhausting mindset? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’m all ears.
Here’s to progress, not perfection. Let’s move forward, together.
