Do you ever feel like nothing you do is good enough? Maybe you spend too much time trying to make things perfect and end up feeling frustrated. That’s called perfectionism, and it can stop you from finishing things or even trying at all. The good news is, you don’t have to be perfect to be successful!
Why Perfectionism Holds You Back
Perfectionism makes you feel like mistakes are bad. But even the people that are the best in their field make mistakes, mistakes are how we learn! Michael Jordan has famously discussed the shots that he has missed compared to the shots that he has made, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” If he focused on all of those missed shots, rather than learning from them, he wouldn’t have become the most successful basketball player in the world.
When you focus too much on being perfect, you might:
- Spend too much time on small details
- Feel afraid to try new things
- Give up when something isn’t perfect right away
How to Overcome Perfectionism
Instead of aiming for perfect, aim for progress. Here are some ways to let go of perfectionism:
- Set Realistic Goals – Instead of expecting perfection, focus on doing your best.
- Give Yourself Time Limits – Set a timer and stop when it goes off. Your work doesn’t have to be flawless.
- Celebrate Small Wins – Every step forward is a success!
The most important thing that you can do to free yourself from the fear of not being perfect is to re-write your mindset about what it means to be successful. The way that you do this is through the consistent use of affirmations. If you want to learn more about setting aside perfectionism, check out this article.
Affirmations to Change Your Mindset
Affirmations can help you shift your thoughts. Try saying these out loud:
- I am proud of my progress.
- Mistakes help me learn and grow.
- Progress is my goal.
The more you repeat these, the more you’ll believe them. Our YouTube channel is a great resource for affirmations and affirmation playlists. Remember, success comes from effort, not perfection. The person that tries is always going to be further along than the person that lets their perfectionism keep them from starting. Keep going, and you’ll always win!