Perfectionism killed a lot of my dreams before I could even get started. My desire to be perceived as perfect held me back from taking any action. If the circumstances weren’t just right, I would not move forward with a goal, project, or hobby.

I was so afraid of judgment that I chose to stay in my comfort zone instead of simply trying. It wasn’t until I realized that I was the only thing that was standing in my way that I started to recover from perfectionism.

Here’s my advice on taking action despite perfectionism:

• Reflect on your perfectionism
• Take the first step
• Talk about it
• Positive Self-Talk

Reflect

Take time to think about when the perfectionism started and also why it started. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a perfectionist. I have always held myself to a high (sometimes impossible) standard.

I started to ask myself the following:

• What would happen if I did not strive for perfection?
• Why do I feel the need to be perceived as perfect?
• What am I fearful of?
• What are goals that I have avoided setting because of perfectionism?

I also started to think about the times where I did not do something perfectly and everything ended up great anyway. Reflecting on those questions and my past experiences helped me see that I did not have to be perfect.

Take the First Step

If perfectionism is holding you back from trying out a new hobby or pursuing a goal or simply living your life, then I encourage you to take the first step. Whatever the first step is, just do it.

Don’t worry or think about the final goal or what could go wrong. Just start.

For me, when I thought too far ahead, I would worry and sometimes freeze. If the circumstances were not perfect, I would avoid starting. Eventually, I realized the power in just going for it.

Want to start working out? Do it! You don’t need the perfect gym outfit or a lot of equipment. Start moving your body today.

Want to get into photography? Snap those shots! You don’t need an expensive camera or the perfect lens. Get started with your phone or whatever camera you have.

Whatever it is, meet yourself where you’re at, and use what you already have.

Talk About It

I used to think that I was the only perfectionist out there. Ha! How wrong I was. The more I spoke about my want to be perfect, the more other people started to open up about their experiences.

I was able to learn from others, and hearing other people’s stories was also very encouraging. I realized that I could also overcome my perfectionism.

Affirm Yourself with Positive Self-Talk

Honestly, I used to think that positive self-talk or giving myself props was cheesy. It also felt really uncomfortable. I was better at criticizing myself and pointing out my flaws.

Applying positive self-talk in my life was a great decision. With practice, positive self-talk and uplifting myself became natural.

I started by simply saying, “I am worthy.”

Just as I am worthy, so are you. You do not have to earn worthiness. You are worthy already.

Through positive self-talk, I realized that my perfectionism was masking my lack of self-acceptance. If I never got started on anything, then there was nothing for myself to criticize. When I started to validate myself, I was able to learn how to feel comfortable not being perfect.