February 13, 2024 / Melissa Eisenbrandt

Cheers to Good Enough: 8 Tips to Kick Perfectionism to the Curb

Today, let’s raise our glasses to celebrate the unsung hero of achievement: good enough. In a world obsessed with perfection, it’s time to give a round of applause to progress, even when it’s not flawless. How can you celebrate good enough and leave behind the stalling that sometimes accompanies perfectionism?

1. Set Realistic Expectations
Perfectionism often rears its head when our expectations are sky-high. Instead of aiming for perfection, set realistic goals that allow room for mistakes and growth. Remember, progress is about moving forward, not hitting an unattainable standard. The glitz and glimmer of perfection can be far overrated.

2. Focus on the Journey
It’s easy to get caught up in the end result, but the journey is where the magic happens. Embrace the ups and downs, the twists and turns, and celebrate every milestone along the way. After all, life is about the experiences we accumulate, not the destination we reach.

We can learn about how we most efficiently build momentum and gain rich perspective throughout the journey. There is so much self-awareness to gain, strengths to realize, weaknesses to overcome, and transformation to happen along the way.

3. Practice Patience
Perfectionism can be a harsh taskmaster, but patience and self-compassion are the antidotes. Offer yourself a healthy dose of patience and understanding as you would offer a friend. Acknowledge your efforts, celebrate your progress, and accept missteps along the way as part of the journey toward success.

4. Embrace Imperfection
Repeat after me: perfection is overrated. Embrace the beauty of imperfection and recognize that flaws add character and depth to our endeavors. Perfection can be an ever-changing illusion, and like beauty, can frequently be defined according to the eye of the beholder.

5. Celebrate Small Wins
Big achievements are awesome, but it’s the small wins that keep us motivated along the way. Take a moment to celebrate every milestone, no matter how minor it may seem. Whether it’s finishing a chapter of your novel or finally mastering that tricky Pilates pose, every step forward is worth celebrating. Consistently savoring the small wins can be one of the biggest contributors to building momentum.

6. Learn from Mistakes
Mistakes are not failures; they’re opportunities for growth. Instead of beating yourself up over a misstep, embrace it as a chance to learn and improve. Reflect on what went wrong, adjust your course, and move forward with newfound wisdom and resilience. Make the mistakes have worth and value.

7. Surround Yourself with Support
Progress is easier when you have a support system encouraging you. Include people who believe in you, encourage your efforts, and celebrate your successes, no matter how small throughout your journey. Their positivity and enthusiasm will help drown out the voice of perfectionism and keep you focused on what truly matters: moving forward with your mission while keeping your core values in focus.

8. Practice Gratitude
In the quest for progress, it’s easy to overlook the blessings we already have. Take a moment each day to practice gratitude for the journey, the lessons learned, and the progress made. Gratitude shifts our focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant, helping to keep perfectionism at bay.

Progress is not about reaching perfection; it’s about embracing the journey and celebrating every step forward, no matter how imperfect it may be. So, raise your glasses to good enough, and toast to the beautiful messiness of progress. Here’s to moving forward, one imperfect step at a time!

How do you choose to celebrate?