Letting Go of Perfect: My Path to Progress

Image: Patricia Douglas photography

"What’s holding you back is what you are holding on to."

That Zen quote really made me think hard.

What I’ve been holding on to, maybe without fully realizing it, is perfection.

And I’ve come to see how much it’s been holding me back; in my work and in my life.

Perfection sounds noble, even admirable. But for me, it’s been a something I’ve been hiding behind. A polished, socially accepted way of saying, “I’m scared.” Scared to be seen. Scared to be judged. Scared that what I create, or who I am, won’t be good enough.

Here’s my truth, perfectionism is rooted in the belief that I’m not enough. Yes…it’s time to fess up. And as long as that belief is running the show, it’s nearly impossible to move forward with courage or clarity. So I stay stuck. I procrastinate. I tweak and rework things endlessly. And in doing so, I rob myself of the opportunity to grow, to connect, and to make a difference.

But I’m done with that cycle!

It’s not easy to admit this. It’s vulnerable to say out loud that, even after years of doing deep work, even after hearing numerous people tell me how much my work has impacted their lives, I still struggle with “not enoughness.” I still wrestle with the voice that says, “It could be better…you could be better.”

But I’m choosing to talk about it anyway. Because I know I’m not the only one.

And because I believe that acknowledging the pattern is the first step toward changing it.

This is at the heart of the work I do with my clients: helping them slow down and notice the patterns that are keeping them stuck, not with judgment, but with curiosity and compassion. We explore the beliefs underneath, the ones that subconsciously shape how we show up in the world. And from that awareness, we build something new. Something aligned. Something real.

I’ve come to see that perfection is NOT a virtue, it’s more like a vice, camouflaged as the desire to “do better” or “be better.” It keeps me from starting, from doing, from being real. It tells me I have to be extraordinary before I even try.

Enough of this!  Who am I trying to impress? And why?

I’m shifting the narrative. I’m choosing to believe that imperfection is where it actually all begins. That done is better than perfect. That sharing something honest, even if it’s rough around the edges, can still create impact.

From now on, my intention is simple:

Just take action!

Whether it’s polished or raw, it will be the best I can give in the moment.

And that....I AM ENOUGH!