In this episode, we tackle the paradox of perfectionism and the value of “good enough.”
Discover how the relentless pursuit of flawlessness may be the root cause of your exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout. Learn about the origins of perfectionist tendencies, how they play out in adulthood, and the ways they drain your energy and time. More importantly, find out how to shift your mindset without feeling like you’re lowering your standards.
From understanding contingent self-worth to embracing a more flexible and adaptable approach, this episode will help you break free from the perfectionism trap and start truly living.
You tell yourself it’s just high standards. That your attention to detail is what makes you excellent. That the long nights, the constant over-preparing, the second-guessing is all just part of what it takes to succeed.
But if that were true, why does it feel so exhausting?
Perfectionism Doesn’t Help You Win
Let’s get one thing straight: Perfectionism isn’t about being your best.
It’s about avoiding failure, rejection, and uncertainty at all costs.
It’s why you hesitate before sending that email, rewriting it five times instead. Why you obsess over every detail, convinced that if you get one thing wrong, the whole thing falls apart. Or why you delay big moves—because if you can’t guarantee success, why risk it?
At its core, perfectionism is self-protection. But the irony? It doesn’t protect you. It paralyzes you.
The High Cost of Perfectionism
We all know perfectionism leads to burnout. But let’s talk about what else it steals from you:
- Time: How many hours have you wasted tweaking things that were already good enough?
- Opportunities: How many chances have you passed up because you didn’t feel “ready” yet?
- Creativity: When you’re obsessed with getting it right, there’s no room to experiment, fail, or innovate.
- Joy: When was the last time you did something just for fun—without turning it into a metric of success?
Every time you wait until something is “perfect,” life moves forward without you.
The “Good Enough” Shift: A New Way to Work and Live
Letting go of perfectionism isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about redefining success so that it doesn’t keep you trapped in an endless cycle of proving yourself.
Shift from Perfection to Precision
Perfectionists waste energy on everything, even the things that don’t actually matter.
Instead of asking, “Is this perfect?” try:
- Is this making a meaningful difference?
- Is this actually improving the outcome?
- Is this worth more of my time?
High achievers focus. Perfectionists obsess. Know the difference.
Get Comfortable Being Seen as Imperfect
The hardest part of overcoming perfectionism isn’t the work—it’s the fear of being judged.
If you struggle with:
- Procrastination (because you don’t want to do it wrong)
- Overworking (because you don’t want to be seen as lazy)
- Overpreparing (because you don’t want to look unqualified)
Ask yourself:
- What am I actually afraid of?
- What happens if this isn’t perfect?
- Do I want to keep running my life based on what people might think?
Because done imperfectly is always better than perfect but never finished.
Train Your Nervous System to Tolerate “Good Enough”
Letting go of perfectionism won’t feel good at first. It will feel wrong.
That’s normal.
Perfectionism has wired your brain to panic anytime something isn’t polished, flawless, or over-delivered. You have to rewire it.
Try this:
- Send an email without over-editing.
- Let a project be done instead of perfect.
- Say “I don’t know” instead of scrambling for the perfect answer.
You’ll feel the urge to fix it. Don’t.
Instead, sit in the discomfort. Let your brain see that nothing bad happens.
The more you do this, the easier it gets. Eventually, good enough won’t feel like failure. It’ll feel like freedom.
Do You Want to Be Perfect or Do You Want to Be Free?
Because at some point, you have to decide.
Do you want to spend your life proving yourself to a finish line that never comes? Or do you want to show up, do work that matters, and actually live your damn life?
Perfectionism won’t give you peace. It will only give you more to prove.
But the moment you decide to stop waiting is the moment you actually get to be free.
Got thoughts or questions from this week’s episode? Drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear from you! 🫶
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00:00 Introduction to Perfectionism
01:39 The Roots of Perfectionism
03:52 Perfectionism in Adulthood
04:57 The Consequences of Perfectionism
05:34 Perfectionism and Control
08:06 The Cost of Perfectionism
08:50 Wasting Time and Missing Opportunities
12:00 Breaking Free from Perfectionism
15:24 Building Tolerance for Imperfection
18:56 Choosing Freedom Over Perfection
I’m Tara Kermiet, a leadership coach specializing in burnout prevention and work-life integration. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re holding it all together with duct tape and coffee. But success doesn’t have to mean running yourself ragged. I help high achievers find work-life balance and shine as badass leaders.
👉 Take my quick quiz to find out where you stand on the burnout spectrum, plus get tailored tips to help you turn things around before it’s too late. Visit: https://tarakermiet.com/free-resources/
😍 If we’re not friends yet on social media, why the heck not? Follow me on Instagram (@TaraKermiet) and/or LinkedIn (@TaraKermiet) so we can stay connected!
🎤 Got a question, a topic you want me to cover, or just want to share your thoughts? I’d love to hear from you! Send me a DM or email.
Stay balanced, stay badass, and make good choices!
Disclaimer: My content is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. For serious concerns, please consult a qualified provider.
