Progress over Perfection
Real Talk: Perfection Is a BS Trap 🎭🚫
You’ve been lied to. Told if you just “tried harder,” did it “perfectly,” and “got your shit together,” life would finally be easy—or at least bearable. Newsflash: perfection is a moving target set by fear, shame, and old stories that keep us stuck in the mud.
Perfectionism isn’t your friend. It’s a prison guard dressed like a cheerleader. It tells you:
- “If you can’t do it right, don’t do it at all.”
- “If you mess up even once, you might as well quit.”
- “Others are watching—you have to look good forever.”
These thoughts aren’t facts—they’re lies designed to make you freeze.
Why Does This Matter? 🧠⚡
Clinically speaking, perfectionism is poison in recovery and growth. It creates:
- Paralysis and procrastination ⏳
- Shame spirals that fuel relapse 😞
- Crushing anxiety and depression 🕳️
- Isolation because you think you’re alone in your mess 🏝️
If you’ve ever skipped a meeting because you missed one, or quit a diet because you ate one cookie, you’ve been dancing with this beast. The truth? Perfectionism kills progress way more than any slip you ever have.
My Own Story—No Filter 🗣️💢
I spent years chasing “perfect recovery.” I hid relapses because “real addicts don’t mess up.” I waited for the “right moment” to start fresh—and almost died waiting. It wasn’t until I owned my mess, my imperfect comeback, and my ugly wins that I got free.
You don’t have to wait to be good enough to start moving. You get to start messy. You get to stumble and keep going.
The Science Behind It 🔍⚖️
- Your brain hates uncertainty and mistakes—hence the perfection trap.
- Shame lights up the same brain areas as physical pain. That’s why a little failure feels like a gut punch.
- When you chase perfection, your brain can’t register progress because its scanning for flaws is on overdrive.
In other words? Shame + perfectionism = stuck.
DARE: The “Museum of Mess” 🎨🖼️
Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
- Find something in your life right now that you usually hide because it’s messy, imperfect, or embarrassing.It can be anything: a cluttered desk, a forgotten bill, an unfinished project, a thought you wouldn’t admit out loud, a recent slip or relapse.
- Take a photo or write a wildly honest description. No photos? No worries. Paint the picture with words.
- Give it a ridiculous, over-the-top museum exhibit name. For example:
- Write down what your perfectionist brain says when it sees this mess. Then write what you’d say to a friend who showed you theirs.
Why This Works
Exposure breaks shame’s power. When you make your mess visible, less scary, and even funny, you take back control. This is the foundation of real progress—seeing your real self without judgment.
What To Expect 🔥😬
- You might want to hide or bail on this. That’s your perfectionism flaring. Keep going.
- You might feel silly or ashamed. Great—that means you’re holding real stuff.
- You might surprise yourself by feeling a little relief.
Examples from the Trenches 👇
- “My ‘museum piece’ is my junk drawer, filled with receipts from 2023. I told myself, ‘You’re lazy and disorganized,’ but I’d tell a friend, ‘You’re just busy, that’s all.’”
- “I wrote about a slip I had last month. My brain said, ‘I’m a failure forever.’ The friend voice said, ‘You’re human, and you tried again.’”
BONUS: What If It Feels Too Much? 🤯🆘
If this stirs up shame so heavy it feels crushing, please pause. You are not alone. Reaching out isn’t weakness—it’s strength.
I’m here for you:
- Book private, confidential coaching at CleanCircle.io or ProgressIsProgress.setmore.com.
- Or just DM me for a chat or reality check.
- Remember, progress means knowing when to ask for help.
Helpful Resources 📚✨
- Brené Brown’s Listening to Shame TED Talk (because shame is the core of perfectionism)
- Perfectionism as a Clinical Issue (for the science nerds—you’re among friends!)
Wrap-Up: You’re Already Free To Start Messy 🎉💪
Perfection is a myth designed to keep you frozen. You don’t have to wait to be “ready.” Your progress begins when you step into the mess, own it, and defy the lie that you must be flawless to move forward.
👊 Reminder: If you get stuck or overwhelmed, reach out! Support is strength, not failure. I’m here for coaching and support anytime. DM or book:✨ CleanCircle.io✨ ProgressIsProgress.setmore.com
🔥 Your Dare: Do your Museum of Mess and bring that messy masterpiece back to this journal or notes app. No judgment, only progress. 👊
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Progress over Perfection
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