6 Ways Perfectionism Slows You Down —
And What to Do Instead
You want clarity.
You want confidence.
You want your next move to feel aligned and look like you’ve got your shit together.
That doesn’t make you needy — it makes you intentional.
You care deeply about how your work shows up in the world. That’s not the problem.
The problem is when perfectionism hijacks that care and turns it into self-doubt, stalling, and second-guessing.
Let’s fix that — without watering down your standards.
You weren’t born a perfectionist.
You weren’t born a perfectionist. You had to become one to stay safe, likable, or impressive.
Now it’s time to see what’s possible when you’re allowed to show up as yourself — all of you.
Perfectionism isn’t about being “organized” or having “high standards” — it’s what happens when your system starts to actually believe :
— “If I can just get it right, maybe I won’t be judged.”
— “If I can prepare just enough, maybe I’ll avoid that gut-punch of humiliation.”
— “If I can be impressive enough, maybe I’ll finally feel like I belong.”
If that feels true for you, take a breath, and please know : you’re not too much and you’re definitely not broken.
You were just taught — probably early and often — that being loved meant having to be exceptional.
Let’s talk about how that shows up in your business now, and what you can start doing to gently (and powerfully) unhook from it.
6 PERFECTIONIST BLOCKS — AND WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
1. Fear of Judgment & Visibility
You delay showing up because “what will people think?”
TRY THIS :
Tap into the energy of the version of you, you usually don’t allow to be seen.
Set a timer for seven minutes and let yourself become her.
Walk like her. Speak like her. Move like her.
Flirt with her energy — then expand it. Let your system get to know her.
She’s not dangerous. She’s part of you.
Once you’ve become her, write one intentionally imperfect thing — from that energy — from that version of you you’ve had to tuck away for so long. Let her lead for just a moment. You don’t have to post it (though it’d be a fun experiment if you did); just let yourself create from that version of you and watch how the rest of the system responds.
2. Overthinking & Decision Paralysis
You overanalyze every option and end up doing nothing.
TRY THIS :
Set a 10-minute timer and make the next micro-decision. Don’t aim for perfect — aim for done.
BONUS :
Use parts language to identify what parts of you are showing up. It might sound something like this —
“A huge part of me just wants to get this done and over with”
“I have a part that is TERRIFIED of the judgment once I hit post”
“There’s a part of me that doesn’t even care and wants to do something else entirely”
Use This isn’t indecision — it’s a chorus of your needs (all valid, all real). Let this new awareness guide your next move.
3. All-or-Nothing Thinking
If it’s not exactly how you imagined it, you don’t do it at all.
TRY THIS :
Ask yourself: “What’s the smallest way I could still honor this idea today?”
Big dreams don’t need big moves. They need consistency.
4. Self-Criticism on Loop
You never feel like it’s enough, even when it is.
TRY THIS :
When you hear the inner critic creep in, out its words (as in : say OUT LOUD, exactly what you hear).
Don’t know what it’s saying? Ask yourself :
How do I feel when it’s here? (Identify this feeling)
What would I have to say to make someone else feel that way?
Then say those words out loud. Saying the words out loud gives you the opportunity to create space between you and it. AND gives you the opportunity to respond.
5. Productive Procrastination
You tweak, plan, and research… but never launch.
TRY THIS :
Set a timer for 30 minutes and move one thing from “draft” to “published.” It doesn’t have to be perfect — just done.
BONUS :
Get curious : is this part of you in creative flow or caught in criticism?
Tinkering and tweaking can be artistic and nourishing — or perfectionistic and paralyzing.
If it feels more like pressure than play, revisit tip #4.
6. Chronic Comparison
Someone else always seems further along than you.
TRY THIS :
This isn’t a forever fix, but for now : mute them. Not forever — just for now.
It’s hard to come back to the space inside where you genuinely like yourself if you’re constantly being bombarded by visuals and messages of folks seemingly doing “better” (whatever that means anyways). Give yourself a break from (the highlight) reels of everyone else’s curated lives.
BONUS :
Audit your entire feed.
Mute or unfollow anyone who makes you feel small, stuck, or “behind.”
You can always re-follow later. For now, protect your peace.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Perfectionism isn’t something you are — it’s something you learned.
And it doesn’t have to run the show.
When you start working with your perfectionism instead of fighting it, you get to reclaim your power.
You get to show up real, messy, and magnetic.
Not once you’ve figured it all out — but while you're in process.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You need self-trust and a willingness to be seen along the way.
NEXT STEP: Feel Your Feels (Without Getting Stuck in Your Head)
Your next move isn’t more strategy — it’s emotional regulation.
If you’re ready to stop spiraling in your thoughts and start holding your emotions like the powerful CEO you are…
👉 Download my free Feel Your Feelings audio + workbook here.
Because confidence doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from presence.
