this Post

Perfectionism can sneak up on you, even when you think you’ve let it go. I thought I had a handle on it until I faced a familiar challenge—recording my podcast. My podcast is all about sharing lessons learned through life’s twists and turns, so you’d think I’d be okay with things not being perfect. But I wasn’t.

The Podcast Revelation

There I was, re-recording the same episode multiple times, trying to get every word, every pause, every inflection just right. And in the middle of it, I had to stop. What was I doing? My podcast isn’t about being polished and perfect—it’s about growth, learning, and embracing those awkward, messy moments that shape us. Yet here I was, letting perfectionism put me in a chokehold.

That realization hit me hard. I hadn’t noticed how much pressure I was putting on myself to be perfect, even when I was advocating for embracing flaws. I had to sit with that feeling. It made me uncomfortable to confront the fact that I wasn’t practicing what I preached. But I did what I always do when I feel stuck—I grabbed my journal and started writing it all out.

Letting Go of Perfection

Through that journaling session, I acknowledged that perfectionism wasn’t serving me and that if I didn’t watch it, it was going to take over me again. It was holding me back. So once again, I started to let go, little by little, recognizing that no one else expected perfection from me. My listeners didn’t tune in for perfectly curated episodes. They tuned in for authenticity, vulnerability, and realness—because that’s where the growth is.

But it didn’t stop with the podcast. Once I realized to how much perfectionism had taken hold again, I saw it everywhere, especially in my writing. I’d been hesitant to publish certain pieces because they didn’t feel “ready.” Yet, as a writer, nothing ever feels truly finished. I had to ask myself, “Am I chasing perfection, or am I making progress?”

Progress Over Perfection

I chose progress. That mindset shift was a game changer for me. Instead of focusing on whether something was flawless, I began to focus on whether it moved me forward. Did I learn something? Did I improve in some way? That’s what mattered.

If you’re holding back because things aren’t perfect, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself: Is this perfectionism helping me, or is it stopping me from showing up fully? More often than not, it’s the latter. It’s time to let go of perfection and embrace the journey for what it is—a series of imperfect steps that lead to unexpected growth.

As I continue navigating my creative and personal journey, I remind myself: “Perfection is not the goal; progress is. Celebrate every imperfect step forward.”

How do you remind yourself to let go of perfectionism?