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Breaking Free From Perfectionism & Pressure
Apr 02, 2025
I used to believe that if I wasn’t doing everything perfectly, I was failing. I felt this pressure in every area of my life—whether it was in my business, my relationships, or how I managed my health. The weight of trying to do everything “right” and avoid mistakes was overwhelming. I believed I had to show up at my best all the time to succeed. But that mindset was slowly chipping away at my peace of mind.
It wasn’t just about doing my work perfectly or meeting others' expectations—it was about maintaining this image of someone who had it all together, someone who never dropped the ball. But no matter how hard I tried to keep it up, I was constantly fighting a losing battle. The more I tried to perfect everything, the more anxious I became. And the more anxious I became, the more I felt like I was failing.
This constant striving for perfection only intensified with the chaos of the world around me. With so much uncertainty, division, and pressure, I found myself feeling like I was constantly treading water. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get ahead. It felt like the external pressure was constantly mounting, and it was hard to know where I ended and the world began.
In those moments, I realized that striving for perfection wasn’t just a productivity issue—it was a matter of alignment. Trying to be perfect pulled me further and further away from my authentic self. I was so caught up in the “shoulds” and “musts” of what I thought was required that I forgot to ask myself what I truly wanted. What was in alignment with my vision for my life and my business? What was actually fulfilling for me, not just what I thought I had to do?
That disconnect led to burnout. Anxiety and stress were the constant companions to my perfectionist tendencies, and I knew I had to make a change. It wasn’t easy to let go of the idea that I had to be perfect, but over time, I found that stepping back and reconnecting with myself was the solution.
One of the ways I began to shift this was through the Power Pause movement. By pausing to reflect before I made decisions, I allowed myself to move out of a place of obligation and into a space of choice and alignment. Instead of reacting to external pressure, I learned to create space to listen to my intuition and act from a place of calm.
This pause became a pivotal part of my journey, and I realized it was the key to shifting out of the perfectionism cycle. The Power Pause wasn’t just about a break; it was about reconnecting to my center, taking a step back, and breathing before moving forward. It gave me the clarity to move with intention, not out of fear of failure or obligation.
I also realized that so many people struggle with this same pressure to be perfect and meet external expectations.
Which is why this week's episode of Movement, Mind, Meaning: Mind & Body Tools to Thrive Beyond Anxiety and Depression dives deeper into how perfectionism affects your mental health and how to break free from it. Watch that here!
If you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety and perfectionism, I’ve got something special for you! Check out my brand new FREE 3-part audio series designed specifically for highly sensitive, ambitious women over 40 who want to take control of their anxiety and flip their anxiety 'off' switch. Grab your spot for free here!