But I want to be perfect.
I get it—who doesn’t want to be perfect? It’s so easy to get caught in the cycle of chasing impossibly high standards, holding onto the hope that if we just try a little harder, sleep a little less, or plan everything just right, it’ll finally all fall into place. But the truth is, it doesn’t work that way.
Perfectionism pulls us in the wrong direction—into a self-defeating cycle of frustration and exhaustion that never truly satisfies. No matter how much you do, it never feels like enough. And that’s not because you’re not enough—it’s because perfection was never the answer to begin with.
Perfectionism Won't Lead to..
A Balanced Lifestyle
Perfectionism makes it really hard to find any kind of balance. It’s that all-or-nothing mindset—where you’re either going all in or not showing up at all. Maybe it’s the “every meal has to be perfect” thinking, or the “I’ll just start the diet again tomorrow” loop. It’s exhausting, and it keeps you stuck in a cycle that’s tough to break.
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Healthy Relationships
Whether it’s being so hard on ourselves that we keep people at a distance, afraid they’ll see our flaws—or feeling like we have to do everything on our own because no one else can meet our standards—perfectionism puts a real strain on our relationships. It gets in the way of connection, trust, and the ability to truly let others in.
High Self-Esteem
When you're caught in perfectionism, your accomplishments can start to feel like your entire sense of self. You work so hard, and everything has to be just right—so one mistake can feel overwhelming. It’s like being stuck with an inner critic who expects perfection on the first try and forgets that growth takes time, patience, and practice.
Do I struggle with Perfectionism?
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Here’s a list of common perfectionistic tendencies—patterns of thinking and behavior that might seem helpful on the surface, but can actually hold you back from growth, connection, and self-compassion. As you read through, notice which ones resonate with you.​​
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