How being a perfectionist is killing dreams
Background
Growing up, I was that kid always trying to prove I was as good as I thought I could be. That drive to be flawless? Yeah, it has roots in my childhood, where being a perfectionist shaped how I saw myself and the world.
Why Perfectionism Can Crush Dreams
Perfectionism is that trait where you obsess over every tiny detail, even the ones that do not matter. But here is the kicker: perfection does not exist. Nothing is flawless, no errors, no gaps, no mistakes.
The idea of "perfect" is a myth because even in fields like medicine, aerospace, or construction, where precision is life or death, you are not chasing perfection. You are chasing close enough. High precision might mean hitting 85% to 99.99% of that impossible 100% mark. Even 51% counts as progress because it is closer to 100 than 50, right?
So, if even these high-stakes fields do not demand perfection, why do we beat ourselves up trying to make everything "perfect"?
The truth is, chasing perfection can paralyze you. You will waste time on pointless tweaks, trying to hit a mark that is unreachable. And that is where dreams die, not because you lack skill, but because you are too scared to put yourself out there.
As James Clear puts it:
Lack of confidence kills more dreams than lack of ability.
It is not about how perfectly you can do something; it is about having the guts to show the world what you have got. The system we live in does not care how smart you are, it rewards those who are bold.
You have probably seen it: brilliant people, full of talent, fading into obscurity because they never shared their work. Their inventions? Straight to the junkyard without publicity. Talent without courage is just potential wasted.
This article is my proof. If I waited for it to be "perfect," I would never have written it. I am just a guy from a third-world country, no fancy English courses, no elite schools. I have been piecing together my English skills from the internet since middle school, and at 24, I am still not great at it. I know my limits, and my fear of being judged is so intense that I only speak English when I feel "ready," which means I barely speak at all.
But here I am, writing this anyway, because screw perfection.
A Note for Those Struggling
If you are battling mental health challenges, please seek help. I am even thinking of starting a random Discord channel just for us to vibe and support each other in this brutal world. No judgment, just a space to breathe.
Again, I wrote this article with the help of Grok, so take everything lightly, this world is temporary so you don't have to be very hard on yourself, take advantage of everything near you as much as you can, too short to reinvent the wheel guys.
Last but not least, have an awesome day, twins!