The real scare: PERFECTIONISM

👻Do you know what’s scarier than ghosts, goblins, and ghouls? Perfectionism. 

Perfectionism is that socially prescribed belief that anything less than “perfect” is unacceptable. It’s fueled by fear of failure, embarrassment, and shame. And let’s be honest—it’s exhausting.

Perfectionism isn’t just a habit—it’s a scary mindset.

I’ve tangoed with perfectionism for a long time. It’s something I work on daily. And I’m not ashamed to admit it—because it’s a pervasive issue for leaders. Many of us grew up under strict judgment, micromanaging bosses, or other life experiences that left emotional scars.

Why It Matters

Some people pride themselves around excellence, but that's different from perfectionism. The lens of always having to get things perfect is costly, drains energy, delays progress, and chips away at confidence.

Here are a few red flags to watch for:

• All-or-nothing thinking

• Defensiveness when receiving feedback

• Rewriting emails…again (and again)

• Procrastinating because it’s “not quite ready”

• Feeling crushed when results don’t measure up to an impossible standard

If these sound familiar, trust that you aren't alone.

Awarenes is the first step. But awareness without action just keeps you stuck in the loop. There are three anchors that have helped shift me away from perfectionism:

• Grace – I now look at progress as ongoing and extend the highest possible thoughts toward myself as I would someone I love.

• Emergence – I don’t have to see the full staircase to take the first step. I give room for things to unfold and to be met with good surprises.

• Acceptance – I stop fighting reality and accept what is creates freedom for what’s next.

When these three are repeatedly practiced, they snuff the spooky right out of perfectionism.

Go ahead and experiment and see what unfolds for you.

Until next time.