Overcoming Perfectionism | Enemies of Excellence #1
Aug 26, 2024
Perfectionism has been a relentless adversary in my life. It’s a sneaky enemy that disguises itself as a quest for excellence, but in reality, it’s a fear-driven rigidity that shackles progress. At its core, perfectionism stems from a deep-seated insecurity, leading us to hold the ideal above the real, valuing the perfect conditions in our minds over the imperfect but actionable reality before us. We become so obsessed with getting everything just right that we end up paralyzed, unable to move forward unless everything aligns perfectly.
What’s truly troubling about perfectionism is that it’s a false comfort. We become satisfied with things being right in our heads, even if they’re not right in the world. It’s a way to avoid facing our fears, pride, insecurity, pressure, comparison, and the need for control. Instead of confronting these issues head-on, we hide behind the illusion of perfection.
But here’s the truth: Perfectionism doesn’t lead to excellence; it leads to stagnation. The "greats" didn’t wait for inspiration to strike before they worked. They worked until they found inspiration. They understood that progress, not perfection, is the real measure of success. They didn’t sit back and wait for the stars to align—they created their own constellations.
I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. For years, I convinced myself that I needed the perfect circumstances to get into the perfect flow, to create something meaningful. I told myself, “I’m not inspired, so I can’t work.” But the truth is, inspiration comes when we start working. I realized that those rare, serendipitous moments where everything feels just right are exactly that—rare. But we can create a “close-enough” version that satisfies our senses and allows us to get into the flow.
So, how do we combat perfectionism? First, we need to shift our focus from perfection to progress. Set a new target: moving forward, even if it’s messy. Embrace the flow of work, recognizing that momentum often sparks creativity. Commit to making progress, not perfection, your new standard.
To truly overcome perfectionism, we must learn to evaluate our progress rather than our shortcomings. Throw more parties to celebrate small wins, embrace evaluation as a tool for growth, and master the art of the restart when things don’t go as planned. In doing so, we’ll discover that excellence isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being committed to continual growth and progress.
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