Why Perfectionism Isn’t Your Superpower: How to Let Go and Reclaim Your Life

Perfectionism. It sounds like a superpower, right? Like being able to get everything just right is some kind of secret sauce to success.

But what if I told you that perfectionism isn’t your superpower at all?

It’s actually a hidden villain. One that keeps you stuck, stressed, and chasing impossible standards while stealing your joy and peace.

I’ve lived this firsthand. For years, I believed that anything less than an “A” wasn’t good enough. Not just in high school, but all the way through nursing school, my BSN, and my MSN. My friends used to tease me, but I took it seriously—if it’s not perfect, it’s a failure. That meant sleepless nights, constant stress, and no room for error. I couldn’t accept less than an A because I tied my worth to those grades. Sound familiar?

So let’s talk about why perfectionism isn’t the superpower we’ve all been tricked into believing it is.

Why the Perfection You’re Chasing Isn’t Real (and Never Was)

Here’s the thing: perfection doesn’t exist. (I know—shock.)
But we still chase it like it’s the holy grail.

The problem? It’s a moving target. The more you chase it, the more it shifts. You never arrive—only feel like you’re falling short.

How Perfectionism Drains Your Joy and Energy

Perfectionism keeps your nervous system in overdrive.
It leaves little room to breathe, no space to rest, and no tolerance for mistakes.

And here’s what’s sneaky: it convinces you that your worth is on the line with every decision or action. It’s exhausting.

One of the most exhausting parts of perfectionism is that it keeps us from even starting.
We procrastinate—not because we're lazy, but because we’re afraid what we create won’t be perfect.

Or, we swing the other way and take on way too much, believing that if we do it all—and do it flawlessly—we’ll finally feel worthy.

It’s a mental hamster wheel: constant motion, zero peace.

The Hidden Cost: When Perfectionism Steals Your Identity

I didn’t see it at the time, but my obsession with straight A’s was more than ambition—it was perfectionism.

And it came at a cost. I missed out on joy, on celebrating the journey, on truly being present.

In chasing perfect, I lost sight of myself.

Your Real Power? Embracing Your Imperfect, Beautiful Self

Here’s the good news: the way out of perfectionism isn’t about lowering your standards, it’s about redefining them. It’s about recognizing that being human means being imperfect—and that’s where the beauty lies.

When I finally started letting go of my perfectionist tendencies, I realized something radical: “Done” was often more powerful than “perfect.”

So, what can you do to start letting go of perfectionism?

Try This: The ‘Good Enough’ Challenge to Break Free from Perfectionism

This week, I want to invite you to try something radical: aim for “good enough” instead of perfect. Whether it’s in a project, a conversation, or even just how you show up in your daily life, give yourself permission to do your best without the pressure to get everything perfect.

Here’s how:

1. Choose one area of your life—work, relationships, parenting, or something simple like a daily routine.

2. Instead of saying “This has to be perfect,” say “I’m going to show up with my best effort—and let that be enough.”

3. When you finish, pause and celebrate. You showed up. That matters more than flawless execution.

And here’s the twist—most of the time, “good enough” is good enough. Spoiler: no one notices the tiny imperfections we obsess over. In 10 years, you’re not going to look back and wish you had stressed more over getting that PowerPoint absolutely perfect, right?

Letting Go of Perfect: A New Way to Measure Your Worth

Let’s be real: perfectionism isn’t the badge of honor we think it is.
It’s sneaky. It whispers that we’re not enough unless we’re flawless—and leads us straight into exhaustion, stress, and self-doubt.

But what if we gave ourselves permission to release all that?
What if we embraced imperfection, and started measuring our worth by effort, growth, and authenticity—instead of impossible standards?

Perfectionism isn’t your superpower.
But embracing your beautifully imperfect self?
That’s where your true strength lives.

If this message speaks to your heart, I invite you to listen to Episode 13 of my podcast Selfless to Self-YES! where I go deeper into the traps of perfectionism and how to break free.

And if you're feeling called to explore how perfectionism might be showing up in your life, let’s talk. I offer a complimentary 20-minute alignment call to help you reconnect with your worth and take the first step toward freedom. Schedule here

You are worthy. You are enough. Just as you are.

With gratitude,

Kandy