Perfectionism: Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations
Striving for excellence is great, until it starts to take a toll on your mental health. Many women feel pressure to excel in their careers, relationships, and personal lives, often holding themselves to impossibly high standards. While perfectionism can drive achievement, it can also lead to stress, self-doubt, and burnout.
Perfectionism isn’t just about wanting to do well. It’s about feeling like nothing is ever good enough. It can also keep you stuck in a cycle of anxiety and dissatisfaction, making it difficult to fully enjoy life’s moments. Perfectionism can look like:
Fear of Failure: Avoiding challenges because you're afraid of falling short.
Burnout: Pushing yourself past your limits and neglecting self-care.
People-Pleasing: Saying yes to everything to avoid disappointing others.
Negative Self-Talk: Being overly critical of yourself, even when you accomplish something.
Procrastination: Putting things off because you fear not doing them perfectly..
How to Overcome Perfectionism
Letting go of perfectionism doesn’t mean lowering your standards. It means setting realistic expectations and being kinder to yourself. Here’s how:
Challenge Perfectionist Thinking
Pay attention to when you’re being overly self-critical.
Ask yourself: “Would I expect a friend to meet these same standards?”
Prioritize Progress Over Perfection
Focus on making improvements instead of striving for an unattainable ideal.
Celebrate small wins rather than only focusing on the end result.
Practice Self-Compassion
Be as kind to yourself as you are to others.
Allow yourself to take breaks without guilt.
Set Boundaries and Say No
You don’t have to do everything. Prioritize what truly matters.
Recognize that it’s okay to let some things go.
Reframe Mistakes as Learning Experiences
Instead of viewing mistakes as failures, see them as part of growth.
Accept that imperfection is a natural part of life.
Releasing perfectionism doesn’t mean giving up, it means embracing a healthier mindset that allows for joy, confidence, and balance. If perfectionism is causing stress or anxiety, contact me to learn how I can help you develop a more compassionate and fulfilling way to approach life.
