Perfectionism… sounds so noble, right? The desire to do everything as well as possible way, with attention to detail and with ambition. But in practice, very often, perfectionism doesn’t give us any wings. On the contrary, it rather clips our wings.
Instead of joy in creating, fatigue sets in. Instead of action — there’s analysis and corrections. Instead of delight in what you have achieved — there’s criticism that “it could have been better.” Sound familiar?
Perfectionism doesn’t really serve us any purpose, other than consuming our energy. It doesn’t give you strength. It doesn’t give you lightness. It doesn’t support creativity. It only makes you feel “I’m not enough,” even when you are doing something really wonderful.
But that’s not the point. We’re not here to be perfect. We are here to experience, create, enjoy, make mistakes, and… live life to the fullest.
In this article, I will tell you why it’s worth throwing perfectionism out the door and how to regain lightness in your actions.
I will talk about how perfectionism takes away joy, how it can quietly connect with imposter syndrome, and how to return to yourself — the one who doesn’t need to prove anything anymore, because you are already enough.
Stay with me till the end — maybe today will be the day you allow yourself to be yourself. Without corrections.
Perfectionism Is Not Quality — It’s Pressure
Perfectionism often pretends to be something it is not. It pretends to care about quality. It pretends to be ambition. It pretends to support us. But in reality, it puts pressure on us.
After all, you can do something truly wonderful without the need to do it perfectly. Only perfectionism will convince you that “wonderful” is not enough. That it must be flawless, ideal, the best of all. That you cannot show your work to the world until you refine every comma, every line, every note.
Yet life is not about constantly improving yourself. We are not here to constantly “fix” ourselves. We are here to experience, feel, create, and be authentic. And authenticity does not require perfection — it needs taking a breath, it needs space and freedom.
If you feel that you are doing something, like writing, designing, coming up with an idea, and you can’t finish it because you keep improving it… it’s very possible that perfectionism is getting the better of you. It consumes your time, energy, joy. And it gives you nothing in return, except a feeling of tension.
That’s why it’s worth remembering: your “good enough” is often really great. And whatever you do, whatever you put your heart into, does not need a million corrections — just the courage to show it to the world.
Vicious Circle Of Corrections And Eternal Unpreparedness
Perfectionism has one very clever trick — it makes sure that nothing is ever ready.
You write a poem, but something doesn’t feel right. So you revise it. Then again. And again. Maybe it would be better to end it in a different way? Maybe delete this part? Or maybe start all over again?
And that’s how a vicious circle is created, one that is difficult to break out of. Instead of sharing your talent and enjoying the creation process, you begin to spiral around “it’s not quite what I want,” “it could be better,” or “I’m not ready.”
But… will you ever really be?
Will there ever be that magical moment when you decide that now everything is definitely perfect? The truth is that for a perfectionist, that moment does not exist.
So, the only solution is to… stop waiting for the perfect moment. Stop endlessly revising. Instead, return to fun, lightness, and delight.
Because it is when you create with pleasure, and with no pressure, that the most beautiful things are created. Not because they are perfect. But simply because they are real.
Perfectionism And Imposter Syndrome — A Duo That Wears You Out
Perfectionism rarely stands alone. It often goes hand in hand with imposter syndrome – and together they form a truly exhausting duo.
The imposter syndrome is that strange feeling that despite your accomplishments, skills, and hard work, “you actually know nothing.” That maybe someone will soon realize that you’re not cut out for something. That you’re just pretending to be competent, talented, and strong.
And that’s when perfectionism steps in, playing the role of a “rescuer.” It says: “You have to do it perfectly. Only then will no one realize that you are not enough.
The result? Terrible fatigue. Because you are no longer creating from the heart, but from fear. You are not acting out of inspiration, but out of tension. And everything you do must be done perfectly — because if it’s not, it will become obvious that you are “not enough.”
It’s a huge energy thief. Not only because it takes a lot of time, but above all because it drains your sense of self-worth.
But the truth is different. You don’t have to prove anything. You don’t have to be perfect to deserve recognition and peace of mind. And really — you don’t need to do everything perfectly to be someone who’s a good enough.
There will always be something you can be proud of. Really. You just need to remind yourself of that. And then… feel that pride in your body. Not vanity — just gratitude and appreciation for yourself.
What Instead Of Perfectionism?
Since perfectionism doesn’t give us lightness, only tension… what’s the alternative?
First and foremost — a sense of pride in what you have already achieved.
It’s not about great successes on the scale of Nobel prizes or TEDx talks. It’s about those moments when you surpassed yourself. Maybe you stood your ground in a difficult situation. Maybe you wrote something courageous. Maybe you helped someone when you were falling apart yourself.
Pause for a moment and recall such a situation.
Don’t analyze, don’t judge — just feel.Feel the energy you had inside you at that moment. Feel that pride — not vanity, but the warm “WOW, I really did it.”
This works as a remedy for perfectionism. Because then you no longer need to constantly prove that you are good enough. You already know that you are.
Psychologists say: instead of striving for perfection, it’s better to practice letting go of the details. Not everything has to be tip-top. Not everything has to align with your imagination. Sometimes it’s enough that something is… alive, real, and yours.
Instead of perfectionism, focus on the joy of creating, connection with your inner self, and acting with compassion. This doesn’t mean mediocrity. It means freedom.
The Practice Of Letting Go And Acting With Compassion
Letting go doesn’t mean “you don’t care anymore.”
It means you stop treating yourself as a project that needs constant improvement. Instead of controlling every detail, you simply allow yourself to be. To create. To breathe. To feel.
Psychologists often encourage us to take a look at our perfectionism and… gently loosen it up. You don’t have to trash right away. You can simply start with small steps:
Do something and don’t correct it right away.
Share something, even if you’re not 100% sure.
Pause and ask yourself: is what I’m doing coming from joy — or from fear that I’m not good enough?
This is what acting with compassion is all about. Not the kind that pushes you to your limits, but the kind that flows from within. The kind that doesn’t require perfection, but presence. The kind of “I am here – and I am doing the best I can right now.”
You can act effectively, create beautiful things, and move forward… without the pressure that everything must be perfect. Because it doesn’t have to be.
It just has to be real.
On A Final Note,
For a long time, perfectionism may have seemed necessary — like a shield, like motivation, like a way to achieve a “good life.”
But if you start to feel that instead of helping you, it takes away your joy, energy, and freedom… perhaps it’s time to let it go.
You can live differently. Lighter, more freely, closer to your inner self. And you don’t need any perfection to do that.
All you need is presence and a bit of trust in who you already are.
