The Recovering Perfectionist’s Guide to “Good Enough”

If you've ever spent 30 minutes drafting a two-sentence email, delayed starting a project until you felt "ready," or replayed a conversation in your head wondering if you said the wrong thing, you may be familiar with perfectionism.

Despite its reputation, perfectionism isn't really about having high standards. More often, it's driven by fear—fear of making mistakes, disappointing others, being judged, or not measuring up. Perfectionism can convince us that if we just try harder, prepare more, or get everything exactly right, we'll finally feel confident and at ease.

Unfortunately, the opposite often happens.

Perfectionism tends to fuel anxiety, self-doubt, procrastination, and burnout. The goalposts keep moving, and accomplishments rarely feel "good enough" for long. Instead of helping us perform our best, perfectionism can keep us stuck, exhausted, and disconnected from what truly matters.

Recovery from perfectionism doesn't mean lowering your standards or becoming careless. It means learning to make room for mistakes, uncertainty, and imperfection while still pursuing your goals. It means recognizing that your worth isn't determined by your productivity, achievements, or ability to get everything right.

As therapists, we often help clients build a healthier relationship with themselves—one rooted in self-compassion rather than self-criticism. Because it turns out that being human is a lot more sustainable than being perfect.

Signed,

A fellow recovering perfectionist.