You may not even be aware of how perfectionism may shatter your dreams. Like a sneaky virus that attacks your lungs, causes illness, and kills you in a matter of weeks. The YouTuber Matt D’Avella has made note of the idolization of perfectionism by some people, implying that those who don’t are indifferent to details. Rejecting perfectionism, however, does not mean ignoring details; rather, it means being concerned about them without allowing them to impede your success.
You make decisions and go forward rather than getting stuck in never-ending cycles of obsession. If not, perfectionism prevents you from finishing things, which causes you to become frustrated and mentally tired. It feels like you are stuck in a loop, worrying endlessly about trivial issues until you get depressed and sick to your stomach.
Give up trying to be flawless. Perfectionism can be compared to an internal conflict; some people even refer to it as a mental battle. It is a clever method of procrastinating, and it needs to end. Here is how to permanently overcome perfectionism.
Create more than you consume
Take the initiative to create something valuable rather than merely consuming content on websites like YouTube and Instagram, blogs, audiobooks, podcasts, and novels. It is easy to fall into the trap of being a constant consumer, but the key is to make an intentional choice to begin creating.
While you might choose to launch a business or take up a new sport part-time, mine was to write and then come up with a book about living with purpose. The key is to decide to build and then act upon it, breaking free from the never-ending cycle of consumption that results in zero productivity.
The key to success is speed
Speed is the cure for overthinking, procrastination, and perfectionism. It is a game-changer. If you are confused about your pace, follow this easy rule: build twice as fast as you think, or even three times faster if it feels comfortable. Accept rejection and failure with a positive mindset. Perfectionism demands success at any cost, yet failure is a useful alternative. My failures to succeed taught me valuable lessons about my own imperfections, shifting my focus to genuine personal growth.
Making mistakes is an important part of the learning process. A lack of errors refers to a lack of opportunity for improvement. Many of you should face more failure than you now do. It is difficult to see people on the sidelines, fearing failure, while others are in the thick of it, confronting setbacks but still enjoying the ride.
If life seems dull, accept more failure. If you have had few accomplishments in recent years, it is probably because you have refused to accept defeat properly. When you welcome failure as a natural part of the path, everything becomes more bearable. When you accept failure as a necessary step, you achieve a level of awareness that is difficult to put into words.
Take more chances in life
“Take more chances” is a phrase I particularly like. It can have multiple meanings, depending on the individual. It is about having the guts to ask for what you want, even if you haven’t fully earned it, and taking calculated chances, in my opinion.
Last year, I emailed a well-known life coach whom I came across through mutual Facebook contacts, and asked if I might submit an article on her site. Despite my expectation that she would decline, I wanted to test my ability to take rejection. Surprisingly, I received a single post on her blog and a recommendation on her feed. When you take a chance, you may not always get what you want, but what you do get can be just as nice, if not better.
If you don’t ask, you will never find out.
Ask questions frequently. If you don’t, you will miss out on important information. Perfectionism frequently causes us to think negatively, such as “They will not agree,” “This won’t work,” or “I’m not good enough.” These thoughts are misleading and can hold you back. Take a chance and ask for things to get the proof you need to achieve your potential, rather than making assumptions.
Get one of these habits for self-improvement
Self-improvement is at the core of running a successful business. Playing video games can serve as a disguised form of self-improvement. Another approach to self-improvement is to work out in the gym. Online writing is a means of personal development. Participating in sports is, at its root, a type of personal development.
The majority of the life objectives we create are elaborate attempts to provide ourselves with opportunities for improvement. The act of improving provides personal fulfillment and meaning, as well as a dopamine reward.
When you make an effort to bring daily improvement into your routine, the battle with perfectionism becomes less frightening.
Stop stressing over the silence around you
It is a common thought: “Nobody pays attention to what I am doing.” It appears true at first. Nobody is interested in your work right away. You have yet to establish a reputation worthy of notice.
Do not think your work has to be perfect to get recognized. That is not the case. Usually, it simply requires investing more time in it, working on it consistently, actively sharing it online, and engaging with people who are doing what you want to accomplish in the future.
I wrote for years for a small audience. My family believed it was ineffective, that I was wasting my time, or that my words had become lost in the black hole of the internet. After the first few years, the following year became overwhelming. My writing grew from a small group of readers to a larger audience, which included my friends’ grandmothers.
Perfectionism can make us impatient and expect instant results. This ego-driven thinking has the potential to hinder our progress. Instead, focus on spending more time in a creative flow state, creating exciting things, rather than obsessing over despair or the feeling that you should have already achieved great success.
Don’t let anyone’s opinions affect you
Perfectionism comes from a fear of being judged by the people around you. We are concerned that if we take action, our coworkers, family, and boss will criticize us. Even strangers may express their opinions. It feels like we are continuously battling everyone’s opinions, trying to please as many people as possible.
Why? It could be because we want to be perceived as good members of society, or because we are afraid of being ‘canceled’ and losing everything we have worked for. Ironically, individuals who dread losing everything frequently have little to lose. They believe that the money and accomplishments they have earned are worth safeguarding at all costs.
Their results are quite average, and even if everything were taken away tomorrow, it wouldn’t make much of a difference. As Dan Koe, a bold writer, said: “You believe you’re battling against others’ opinions when, in reality, you’re merely enslaved by your own.”
Here is the final thought:
A random Twitter user shared this perspective: Waiting for the perfect moment is like waiting until you die. Many people live their lives this way, reaching the end only to learn they have accomplished nothing and time has run out.
There is no such thing as perfect timing or a perfect result. The goal is to allow oneself to be less than perfect, even if it means making mistakes, in order to gain the wisdom required to succeed in your field.
I would love to hear about your experiences with perfectionism. Please share your views in the comments so that we may all learn from one another.
Sana Ahmed Khan is a life coach and author of multiple books from Islamabad, Pakistan. As a certified life coach and author, Sana is keen on helping women from all walks of life. Sana empowers you to overcome self-doubt, find balance, and become your best self through her guidance focused on mindful living, social skills, and personal development.
