Have you ever held yourself back because you felt you weren’t ready? Maybe you’ve had an idea, a dream, or a project you wanted to start, but instead of taking the first step, you kept waiting, waiting for the perfect moment, skill set, and confidence. The problem? That moment never comes.
Jenny Modin, a mindset and habit coach, has seen this pattern repeatedly, especially among women. Perfectionism isn’t just about wanting to do well; it’s about feeling like nothing is ever good enough. The fear of not measuring up can stop you in your tracks. But here’s the truth: perfectionism doesn’t make you better. It keeps you stuck.
The Hidden Cost of Perfectionism
Many people wear perfectionism as a badge of honor. It sounds good, as if it means you have high standards. But in reality, perfectionism does more harm than good. It fuels stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. Instead of pushing you forward, it often leads to procrastination. Some never start; others endlessly tweak, never feeling like it’s good enough to share.
Jenny has worked with women who have big ambitions but feel trapped by their expectations. One client, for example, wanted to start a business. She had the skills, the knowledge, and the drive, but she kept reworking her business plan instead of launching it. Every time she made progress, she found another reason why it wasn’t quite “ready.” Months passed, then years. The longer she waited, the harder it became to take action.
This is what perfectionism does. It creates a cycle of hesitation and self-doubt. And it’s exhausting. Studies show that perfectionism is linked to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout. It doesn’t lead to success; it leads to frustration.
High Standards vs. Perfectionism
One of the biggest misconceptions about overcoming perfectionism is that it means lowering your standards. That’s not true. Striving for excellence is great until it turns into an all-or-nothing mindset.
Jenny helps her clients recognize the difference between having high standards and being stuck in perfectionism. High achievers aim for success but understand that mistakes and setbacks are part of the process. Perfectionists, on the other hand, see anything less than flawless as failure. That kind of thinking doesn’t just kill creativity. It stops people from trying at all.
Think about some of the most successful people in the world. They didn’t get there by waiting until they had all the answers. They took action, made mistakes, and kept going. Thomas Edison failed over a thousand times before perfecting the lightbulb. We might still be sitting in the dark if he had let perfectionism win.
How to Break Free from Perfectionism
The key to overcoming perfectionism isn’t about being careless; it’s about learning to take action even when things aren’t perfect. Jenny encourages her clients to focus on completion over perfection. A straightforward way to do this? Set deadlines for yourself. Instead of endlessly refining your work, commit to finishing it and moving on.
Another important shift is to reframe failure. Instead of thinking that if I fail, I’m not good enough, I should try to see failure as part of the process. Every mistake is a lesson. Every misstep is a stepping stone. The most successful people in any field aren’t the ones who never fail, and they’re the ones who fail and keep going.
Jenny also recommends breaking big goals into smaller steps. A goal like “write a book” or “start a business” can feel overwhelming. Instead, start with something small. Write for ten minutes a day. Research one business idea this week. Small wins build momentum, and momentum builds confidence.
Stop Worrying About What Others Think
A considerable part of perfectionism is fear, fear of judgment, fear of criticism, fear of not being enough. Many perfectionists hold themselves back because they worry about what others will think. But here’s the truth: no matter what you do, someone will always have an opinion. You can’t control that. What you can control is whether or not you let it stop you.
Jenny reminds her clients to focus on their purpose. Why did you want to start in the first place? What excites you? What impact do you want to make? When you shift your attention to what truly matters, other people’s opinions lose power over you.
One way to practice this is to put something out into the world before you feel fully ready. Post that article. Share that idea. Submit that application. The more you do this, the more you prove to yourself that you don’t need perfection to succeed; you just need to start.
Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection
Perfectionists often focus on what they lack instead of appreciating how much they have achieved. That can make even real progress feel like a failure. Jenny encourages her clients to celebrate small wins along the way. One simple practice is to write down one thing you accomplished each day. Over time, these little moments add up and shift your mindset.
Perfectionism isn’t helping you. It’s holding you back. Jenny Maria Modin has helped countless women move past the pressure always to get things right. She teaches that success isn’t about being flawless. It’s about showing up, taking action, and learning.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice. While we strive for accuracy, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of this information. Use of this information is at your own risk.
Published by Anne C.
