Perfectionism is Stealing Your Potential - Here’s How to Break Free
“I’m not a perfectionist” (or so I thought)
I never thought of myself as a perfectionist.
Perfectionists are the ones who colour-code their planners, rewrite emails five times before hitting send, always look beautifully put together, and focus their attention on all the micro details, right? That’s not me.
At least, that’s what I told myself.
I read Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection for the first time years ago, but re-reading it on a recent trip, something hit differently. She described perfectionism and the idea of “being perfect” not only as having high standards but as a shield against judgment, failure, and the fear of not being enough.
I felt like she was talking directly to me.
Because when I really looked at my behaviour, I saw it everywhere. The impossibly high standards and the relentless pressure I put on myself to always perform at my best. The constant drive to do more, be better. The way I’d move the goalpost the second I reached it. Not celebrating progress, because of course I hit the target (that was the expectation all along).
Perfectionism wasn’t stopping me from taking action, but it was making me feel like no action was ever enough.
I’d been telling myself I wasn’t a perfectionist because I didn’t look like the stereotype I have in my head. But perfectionism doesn’t always show up as meticulous organisation and obsessive detail.
Sometimes, it looks like never slowing down, never feeling satisfied, and constantly chasing the next achievement, because anything less feels like falling behind.
Perfectionism Isn’t About Excellence. It’s About Fear
I used to think perfectionism was about having high standards. But the more I examined it, the more I realised: it’s actually about fear.
Fear of getting it wrong.
Fear of looking stupid.
Fear of being judged.
Fear of proving that little voice in your head right (the one that whispers you’re not good enough anyway.)
And that fear doesn’t push you to be better. It holds you back. It tells you:
Don’t start the business until you have the perfect strategy.
Don’t go to the gym until you’ve lost a little weight first.
Don’t share your work until it’s flawless.
Don’t even try, because what if you fail?
Perfectionism doesn’t make you perform at a higher level. It keeps you stuck in your own head, constantly measuring yourself against an impossible standard. And when you inevitably fall short (because of course you do, you’re human), it tells you to double down, work harder, push yourself more.
It’s a trap.
What If ‘Good Enough’ is the Secret to Growth?
Here’s what I’ve learned: the opposite of perfectionism isn’t failure. It’s progress.
And the only way to truly grow? Let things be imperfect.
This is something I’m actively working on. Instead of waiting until something feels ready, I’m hitting publish. Instead of constantly raising the bar on myself, I’m learning to acknowledge progress and let ‘good enough’ be enough.
Instead of overthinking every little detail, I’m choosing momentum over mastery.
It’s uncomfortable. But it’s also super freeing.
Because when you let go of the pressure to be perfect, you realise something amazing:
You actually get more done.
You feel less stressed.
You learn faster.
You start trusting yourself more, because you’re no longer measuring your worth by impossible standards.
It’s not about settling for mediocrity. It’s about recognising that perfection isn’t what leads to success, consistency is.
If You Only Take One Thing Away From This…
Next time you catch yourself saying, I’ll start when I’m ready, ask yourself: What’s the smallest imperfect action I can take right now?
Not when the timing is better. Not when you feel more confident. Right now.
Because your potential isn’t waiting for you to be perfect. It’s waiting for you to begin.