Last week, I embarked on a 90-day journey to explore what it means to truly be seen. The responses, reflections, and courage shared by others along the way have been inspiring. This journey is not just personal; it’s a shared space for vulnerability and growth.
This week, I gave myself a challenge: take last week’s email and transform it into a blog post. It seemed simple enough—just copy and paste, right? But as I sat down to do it, perfectionism crept in, paralyzing my progress.
I got caught in the details:
What image should I use?
What colors would feel right?
Should I include a picture of myself? If so, which one?
What felt simple became overwhelming. I realized I was overthinking everything, trying to make it perfect before moving forward.
Perfectionism in Disguise
This isn’t a new pattern for me. I’ve seen perfectionism rear its head in so many areas of my life.
Take my newest creative adventure: a song I’m writing called The Winding Road. As I play with lyrics and melodies, I catch myself hesitating over every word and note, worrying if it’s good enough before the song even takes shape.
Or consider dating. For years, I’ve carried the belief that I need to be at the “perfect” weight to be worthy of love. This mindset has kept me from putting myself out there and has robbed me of opportunities for joy and connection.
The Truth About Perfectionism
Here’s what I’m learning: perfectionism doesn’t keep us safe; it keeps us stuck. It halts our creativity, prevents us from experimenting, and denies us the joy of simply being in the process.
Perfectionism isn’t just about wanting things to look polished. At its core, it’s a mask we wear to hide the parts of ourselves we’re afraid to show. We think we have to cover up the messy, imperfect, or “ugly” pieces of our lives to be worthy of connection, success, or love. But the truth is, it’s those very pieces—the vulnerable, raw, and real parts—that allow us to connect deeply with others.
It’s through the cracks in our perfection that creativity flows. It’s our flaws that make us human and relatable.
Choosing Freedom Over Perfection
This week, I’m taking one imperfect step forward. I’m publishing my blog post as it is—unfinished edges and all. It feels vulnerable, but it’s also liberating.
If this resonates with you, let’s explore it together.
Where in your life are you holding back because you’re waiting for it to be “just right”? What’s one imperfect step you could take to move forward?
This week, my imperfect step is sharing this blog post. What’s one small, imperfect step you could take to break free from the perfectionism trap?
Let’s walk this winding road together, imperfectly and courageously. I’d love to hear your thoughts, your stories, and how this is landing for you.
With love and gratitude,
Monica
Monica Stevanovic