First published 24 August 2025

Hello, My Name is Angela, and I’m a Recovering Perfectionist…

I’m sat here writing this whilst staring at a list on my flipchart of “Blog Posts ideas.”  On this list there are loads of ideas that I still haven’t put fingers to keyboard – apparently these ideas are not quite good enough to see the light of day – yet.

Sound familiar?

This month, my marketing programme’s module is called “Just Ship It.”  Three little words that have been keeping me a little bit stuck – not because they’re complicated, but because they’re asking me to do something that goes against every perfectionist instinct I’ve oh so carefully cultivated over the years.

Here’s the thing that’s really got me thinking: I spent a year perfecting my book before finally publishing it in June.

You’d think that would cure my perfectionism, wouldn’t you?

Instead, I’ve simply transferred it to the next stage – now I’m putting off the social media marketing because my Instagram posts aren’t quite polished enough, my LinkedIn content needs more work, and what if people don’t respond well to my promotional efforts?  In fact, a big part of the problem is I am just avoiding even making the content.

The perfectionist trap evolves, but it never really goes away.

The Perfectionist’s Paradox

Here’s what I’ve come to realise about perfectionism: it’s not actually about having high standards.

High standards are brilliant – they push us to do good work.

Perfectionism, on the other hand, is more about fear dressed up as conscientiousness.

It’s the terror that “good enough” somehow reflects poorly on our worth as human beings.

From an energetic perspective, perfectionism often stems from our throat chakra being out of balance – we become overly concerned with how others perceive our voice, or we shut down entirely rather than risk being judged.

The irony?

Our perfectionist tendencies prevent us from sharing the very things that could help others most – our authentic, imperfect, beautifully human experiences. (and it was a friend who guilted me by saying he could have really used my book during his recovery from his heart attack that finally gave me the ‘rocket’ to finish and publish the book!)

What Perfectionism Actually Costs Us

Let me paint you a picture of what perfectionism has cost me:

• That book that took a year longer to publish because I kept finding “one more thing” to tweak or re-write
• The marketing campaign I’m still sitting on because I just can’t start creating the content
• Countless blog posts that never made it past the idea stage
• A beautiful published book that’s not reaching people because I’m too scared to promote it imperfectly

But the real cost isn’t in delayed projects – it’s in the life I haven’t lived whilst waiting for everything to be just so.

The “Good Enough” Experiment

Right, here’s where I invite you to join me in the Perfectionist’s Recovery Programme.

This week, we’re going to practice the radical act of “good enough.”

Your mission, should you choose to join me is to:

1. Find something you’ve been sitting on – that email you keep redrafting, the idea you haven’t shared, the thing you finished but haven’t promoted.
2. Set a timer for 20 minutes – whatever it is, you get 20 minutes to make it “good enough” and then you must release it into the world (yep this is giving me the fear just typing it!).
3. Ship it – send the email, share the idea, post about your work.  Before your perfectionist brain has time to intervene.

My personal challenge: I’m committing to actually marketing my book, even if my social media posts aren’t Instagram-perfect.  Because a book that helps no one isn’t worth the year I spent perfecting it.

The Nervous System’s Take on Perfectionism

From a kinesiology perspective, perfectionism keeps our nervous system in constant low-level stress.

We’re perpetually scanning for what’s wrong, which keeps us in “fight or flight” mode where creativity gets stifled and joy becomes a luxury we can’t afford.

The antidote?

Learn to activate the parasympathetic nervous system – that lovely “rest and digest” state where we can think clearly, create freely, and trust that “good enough” is actually perfectly fine.

Permission to Be Imperfect

Here’s what I want you to know: your worth isn’t determined by the flawlessness of your output.

The people who need what you have to offer aren’t looking for perfection – they are looking for authenticity and genuine help.

That imperfect social media post might reach exactly the right person.

That half-polished idea could transform someone’s day.

We’re so busy trying to create the perfect thing that we forget the most powerful thing we can offer is our genuine, flawed, beautifully human selves.

Your Perfectionist Recovery Kit

If you’re ready to join me in recovery, here are some tools:

• The 80% rule: when something is 80% of your vision, it’s ready to go
• Time boundaries: give yourself deadlines and stick to them
• The “good enough” mantra: repeat after me: “Done is better than perfect”
• Imperfection practice: deliberately do something imperfectly every day

Ready to Ship It?

Whilst you’re waiting for perfect, life is happening. People who could benefit from your gifts are still struggling. And you’re missing out on the joy of creation, connection, and contribution.

So let’s make a pact – let’s choose progress over perfection, action over analysis, and “good enough” over never at all.

After all, this blog post isn’t perfect. I’ve probably missed something important, and I’m sure I could polish it further.  But it’s good enough to help. And sometimes, that’s exactly what perfect looks like.

Right then, your turn – what are you going to ‘ship’ this week?

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Ready to break free from perfectionist patterns that keep you stuck? Book a discovery call and let’s explore how to help your system embrace “good enough” with confidence and joy.