How to Stop Being a Perfectionist: Why "Good Enough" Is a Great Place to Start

You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great. - Les Brown

I'll start when I have more time to do it properly."

"Let me just research this a bit more first."

"I need the perfect plan before I begin."

These words might as well be imprinted on the perfectionist's soul. As a mindset coach, I hear these phrases so often from brilliant, capable people who are stuck in what I call the perfectionist's trap—the belief that everything must be flawless before it's worthy of existence. Here's how to stop being a perfectionist.

What Perfectionism Will Ultimately Cost You

Let's understand this first. Here's what perfectionism really costs us: not just the project we never start, but the growth we never experience. In yoga, we learn about finding contentment with what is. Perfectionism is the opposite of this ancient wisdom. It's a form of resistance to the present moment, a way of saying "this isn't good enough" before we've even tried.

Many of us spend months perfecting business plans that never see daylight, crafting the "perfect" morning routine we never actually practice, or waiting for the "right time" to pursue our dreams. What's really happening here isn't procrastination—it's a mindset that equates worth with flawlessness.

But here's the truth: courage is a muscle, and like any muscle, it grows stronger with use. Every time you choose to start before you feel ready, you're building your tolerance for uncertainty. Every imperfect action rewires your brain to see mistakes as data, not disasters. Those of us who break through aren't the ones with perfect plans—we're the ones who've trained our minds to value progress over perfection, one small brave choice at a time.

The Mindfulness Reset: Catching Perfectionism in Action

The first step to breaking free isn't forcing yourself to be less perfect—it's becoming aware of perfectionist thoughts as they arise. This is where mindfulness becomes your superpower.

Try this simple practice: For the next week, notice when you delay starting something. Pause and ask yourself:

• What am I afraid will happen if I begin imperfectly?

• What story am I telling myself about what "ready" looks like?

• If I only had 10 minutes to start this, what would I do?

Often, you'll discover that perfectionism isn't about high standards—it's about fear wearing a sophisticated disguise.

The Yoga of Imperfect Action

In my yoga practice, I've learned that every pose is both perfect and imperfect simultaneously. A given pose won't look the same three years from now and looks vastly different from when I started—and so will the tasks we choose to work on. The pose isn't the destination; the practice is.

This same principle applies to everything we create. Your first blog post, business launch, or creative project isn't meant to be your masterpiece—it's meant to be your beginning. Each "imperfect" action is a teacher, showing you what works, what doesn't, and who you're becoming in the process.

The practice of consistent action, even imperfect action, creates transformation. A daily 10-minute meditation practiced consistently will serve you far better than the "perfect" hour-long session you keep planning but never start.

From Paralysis to Progress

What if, instead of asking "Is this good enough?" you asked "What can I learn from this?" What if instead of waiting for perfect conditions, you created perfect presence with whatever conditions exist right now?

Starting imperfectly isn't settling for less—it's choosing growth over stagnation, courage over comfort, and reality over fantasy. It's honoring the yogic teaching that we are already whole and worthy, exactly as we are, in this exact moment.

This isn't about being reckless—it's about recognizing when you have enough knowledge to take that first smart step forward.

Your Next Imperfect Step

The most profound transformations I've witnessed in my coaching practice have come not from perfect plans, but from imperfect courage. From my own story of launching my business with a simple website because "something is better than nothing," then making those 5 calls with prospects and signing up my first 2 coaching clients. Or, from the woman who joined a yoga session even though she had some physical challenges.

I apply this principle in my own life constantly—it's how I ease into each next step with grace rather than force. When I remind myself that beginning imperfectly is still beginning, the resistance melts away.

Your dreams are waiting for you to begin, not to be perfect.

The question now isn't whether you're ready—it's whether you're willing to take that first imperfect step.

Taking Action Now... Next Steps

If you're tired of planning, preparing, and perfecting while your goals remain just out of reach, it's time for a different approach. In my Break Free Strategy Session, we'll identify the specific perfectionist patterns holding you back and create a personalized action plan for moving forward—imperfectly and powerfully.

Because the world doesn't need another perfect plan. It needs your imperfect courage to begin.

Book your complimentary Break Free Strategy Session today and take your first imperfect step toward what matters most to you.