I just want to throw something out for you to mull over.

Perfectionism can be is exhausting. 😫

Why? Because you are having to carry a heavy burden always striving for this mythical, unattainable standard.

This causes whispered doubts to start fueling fear of failure and the struggle begins.

The quest for flawlessness stifles creativity and takes a toll on your mental well-being, leaving you feeling stuck and unfulfilled.

It's time to break free from unrealistic expectations (from others and ourselves) and start celebrating our imperfections.

The Perfectionism Trap

Are you stuck in the perfectionism trap, where the pursuit of flawlessness becomes a roadblock to your creativity and productivity?

There are two common pitfalls that make this cycle worse - Inner Critic Overload and Comparisonitis Syndrome.

Inner Critic Overload

Does it ever feel like you have the worlds worst cheerleader living inside of your head?

Instead of encouragement and praise being loudly broadcasted inside of your mind, it is harsh and mean words being spewed.

Yep, that would be the inner critic whose whole mission is to constantly berate you for not measuring up to impossible standards that start to wreck havoc on your self-esteem.

Not to mention making decisions that will get you closer to taking steps towards your dreams.

Instead of letting the inner critic dominate your thoughts, try shifting your focus to self-compassion and embracing imperfection.

Yes, at first your inner critic might protest rather loudly, but in time it will start to quiet down because you won't be listening to it as much and it will start to lose steam.

Comparisonitis Syndrome

Are you always comparing your work to others, trying to be perfect but ending up feeling insecure and scared of failing?

Then stop focusing so much on what others are doing and look inward instead.

Concentrate on growing and being kind to yourself.

Embrace your unique journey and celebrate the little wins along the way.

Your path is yours alone, and comparing yourself to others takes away from who you truly are.

In a world that loves perfection, remember that imperfection is where the magic happens.

Break free from high expectations and enjoy your unique process.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes and learn as you go.

Imperfection isn't a flaw; it shows your humanity and strength.

Embracing Imperfection

There are two main ways that you can embrace imperfection - cultivating a growth mindset and finding joy in the process.

1. Cultivating a Growth Mindset

When you start seeing challenges as chances to learn and grow, a whole new world opens up.

Embrace setbacks as lessons, and witness your path turning into a thrilling adventure.

To nurture a growth mindset, kick off by tweaking your self-talk.

Instead of obsessing over perfection, remember that mistakes are just part of the learning game.

Cheer on progress rather than perfection, and dare yourself to experiment with new tricks or styles without the fearing the inevitable flops.

Stay curious. Stay open-minded.

Soon, your creativity will bloom.

2. Finding Joy in the Process

I find that the more I let myself have fun and let whatever I am creating be joyful, the less I focus on trying to control the outcome which typically translates into it being perfect.

Sometimes, mistakes happen. That's not only part of the process of creating a printable, starting or growing your business, but life in general.

There are times when those mistakes cause silly blunders that can be laughed at. Other times they cause what Bob Ross would call happy accidents.

Rarely are mistakes not fixable. (I personally can't think of a time in my life...)

Honestly, mistakes aren’t marks of failure; they’re signposts of growth.

So, embrace them as much as possible and learn from them.

Shift your mindset from perfection to progress, from rigid expectations to flexible exploration.

Give yourself permission to enjoy the process and have fun. (When was the last time you had fun, and I mean really had fun? Food for thought.)

Embracing imperfection isn’t about settling for less.

It is actually about striving for more - more creativity, more resilience, more authenticity.

Breaking Free from Perfectionism Through Prioritizing

Sometimes the pressure to be perfect gets to be so great that you might find yourself sliding to the other extreme and want to stop trying.

If this happens, here are three proactive steps that you can take.

A. Don't Just List Your Priorities - Start to Live Them

Writing down your top priorities doesn't mean anything if you aren't in fact making strides to live them or starting to incorporate them in to your daily actions.

The best way to figure this out is to compare what you are saying your top priorities are and compare that with where your time is actually going.

Here are some questions that you can ask yourself as a simple way to begin:

• What do I spend the most time, energy and resources on?

• How well does this line up with what I say my priorities are?

• What is the simplest, most effective thing that I can do today to achieve my daily goal?

B. Identify Your Perfectionism Triggers and Interrupt Them

Where you feel the need to be perfect could be triggered by a number of different situations.

If you are starting to feel that nagging feeling and voice start to creep up, a simple way to interrupt it is by being fully present with the people around you.

Be present with all of your senses. This can still work even if you are by yourself.

By being fully engaged in the moment, no matter how fleeting brings you back to yourself and helps to relieve the burden of perfectionism and pressure to constantly perform.

C. Make a Plan to Conquer Procrastination

Procrastination signals that you may be avoiding the failure and that indicates perfectionism is lurking nearby.

If you have been procrastinating instead of pursuing your dream or idea, resolve to do one simple task to move forward.

It helps to write down action steps centered around the thing you want to do and commit to completing them by a set deadline.

Embrace your quirks, for they are what make you unique and special.

Imperfections are like rocket fuel for creativity, growth, and innovation. 🚀

Start by taking tiny steps on the path to letting go of perfectionism.

Try coloring outside the lines, sharing that not-so-perfect design, and embracing the beauty of being perfectly imperfect.