The Case for Progress over Perfection.
Perfection. We’ve all chased it at some point in our lives.
But guess what? None of us ever achieve it. So, why do we keep running after it? Well, for starters perfection is alluring. It symbolizes a heightened level of wisdom, beauty, knowledge, experience…fill in the blank.
But let me hit you with three truths about perfection.
Perfection isn’t REAL. Let that sink in for a moment. You are chasing something that doesn’t even exist.
Seeking Perfection Holds Us Back. When we’re seeking perfection, we are generally spiraling, sitting in indecision and creating iteration after iteration of the product, idea, presentation, etc in hopes that it’ll finally be good enough, without ever having much to show for our efforts.
The Pursuit of Perfection is the Killer of Action. Perfectionism puts us in a mindset of scarcity, creating stories in our minds about what we don’t have. It leads us to think judgmental thoughts about ourselves, and our abilities, which in turn keep us stuck and limits us from taking action. Let’s be real, thinking ugly thoughts about ourselves is an unsustainable model for motivation.
So, what do we do about this?
We stop holding ourselves to a fictional standard.
We stop judging ourselves.
We TAKE ACTION.
Choosing progress:
So, here’s the exciting part. Let’s dive into what it looks like to choose progress rather than perfection.
Set a Goal. What is it you’re aiming for? Launching a new product? Painting your kitchen? Whatever it is, set a realistic goal with small, tangible action items that help you get to the larger goal.
Identify Where You are Trapped. What are your pitfalls of perfectionism? Maybe you get caught up in thinking there is some perfect version of your task. Check in with that thought and remind yourself that perfection isn’t real. Or, maybe you get caught up in creating multiple iterations of a project, consider setting some helpful boundaries to limit your time spent on the project.
Do the Thing. I recognize this is easier to say and harder to do, but hear me out. Consider what would happen if you just did the thing, to the best of your ability and moved on. This is a mind-blowing concept with huge impacts. Maybe you’d have more time to spend with your kids, maybe you’d have more mental energy to engage in that book you’ve wanted to read for six months. Whatever it is, I know the ability to leave perfection in the dust will free you up for great things.
Where to go from here?
I help my clients learn how to train their brains and use their thoughts to work for them instead of against them. If you’re ready to explore what it would be like to make more progress and leave perfection in the dust, schedule a free discovery call with me.
