Flawed Yet Forward: The Liberating Shift from Perfection to Progress
Introduction
We've all been there - staring at a blank page, empty document, or untouched project and feeling that it needs to be perfect before we can begin. Coincidentally, I experienced this very situation myself as I was gearing up to tackle a slightly different subject for this blog (for those curious, it involved crafting achievable objectives).
Sitting in my chair, thinking about the potential outcome of this blog, I found myself overwhelmed with thoughts about its ultimate form. The clarity of my initial vision blurred under the weight of expectation. So… I shifted my focus a bit. This blog is now centered on the theme of transcending the pursuit of perfection and instead, finding satisfaction in continual progress.
The expectation of perfection paralyzes us from taking the first step. We tell ourselves that we'll start once we have the perfect idea, solution, or plan - but that magical moment never seems to arrive. Perfectionism prevents progress. When we wait for the stars to align and conditions to be perfect, we end up stuck in place.
On the other hand, when we focus on progress rather than perfection, we give ourselves the freedom to learn, grow, and improve. Perfection is an admirable goal, but not a realistic starting point. The path to excellence begins with a first step, not a flawless leap. Rather than demanding perfection right out of the gate, we would be better served to embrace iteration and view life as a journey of small improvements. The reward lies in the progress made, not the illusion of perfection.
The Problem with Perfectionism
Perfectionism is an all-too-common mindset that sets the bar unrealistically high, making it almost impossible to reach. When we expect perfection from ourselves or others, we inevitably end up disappointed. This prevents us from making meaningful progress, as we get stuck trying to attain an impossibly high standard before moving forward.
Perfectionists tend to focus on flaws rather than achievements. Even when a perfectionist produces excellent work, they may tend to fixate on tiny mistakes rather than appreciate the accomplishments. This erodes self-confidence and leads to frustration. Perfectionists also frequently procrastinate out of fear of not meeting their own excessive standards. They would rather put things off than risk imperfection. This results in missed opportunities, wasted time, and lack of growth.
Additionally, and interestingly, perfectionists often impose unrealistic expectations on others. This strains relationships when others inevitably fall short. Perfectionists can come across as demanding, controlling, and impatient. Ironically, their uncompromising standards make it harder for people to do their best work. When allowed to flourish unchecked, perfectionism creates self-defeating thought patterns that limit happiness and success. The first step is recognizing that ‘done’ is better than ‘perfect’.
Progress Over Perfection
Focusing on progress lets you build momentum and get better over time through practice and iteration. It’s important to remember to go easy on yourself; mistakes and missteps are opportunities to learn. When we seek perfection, we put immense pressure on ourselves to get everything right the first time. As we’ve just learned, this can lead to frustration, stagnation, and giving up when efforts fall short of unrealistic expectations.
However, when we focus on progress, we adopt a growth mindset. Each step forward and lesson learned brings us closer to excellence. Progress takes patience, persistence, and resilience. With consistent effort, skills develop, knowledge expands, and results improve. Over time, the incremental gains compound into major strides.
Choosing improvement over perfection is liberating. Adopting this mindset is crucial as it allows the freedom to try new things and innovate without the dread of failing. By concentrating on the joys of gradual betterment rather than fixating on the final results, you can truly appreciate the journey. Progress acts as a motivator by giving a feeling of advancement. Each small victory and milestone achieved offers positive feedback that encourages you to continue.
It’s also important to remember that the path of progress is paved with mistakes, missteps, adjustments, and course corrections. However, each one presents an opportunity for learning and growth. When setbacks occur, reflect on what went wrong, what you would do differently, and how you can improve. Maintain faith in the process. Progress takes time, but perseverance pays off. With a focus on getting better bit by bit, you will reach heights you never thought possible.
Tips for Focusing on Progress
If you find yourself falling into a mode of perfectionism, take a moment to re-group and test out these approaches:
Set process-oriented goals rather than outcome goals. Focus on the journey rather than just the destination. For example, set a goal to practice a skill for 30 minutes every day rather than expecting to master the skill in a short timeframe.
Don't compare yourself to others. We all move at different paces and have different strengths. Comparing yourself can lead to frustration. Stay focused on your own path. For example, you may have lost to your friend today in a round of golf by a few strokes. However, you have only been golfing for a year, in contrast to your friend who has been golfing for decades.
Celebrate small wins and milestones. Recognize each step forward, no matter how minor it may seem. Completing a small goal brings you closer to bigger goals.
The key is shifting your mindset to value effort and consistency over demanding flawless results immediately. Progress takes patience, but celebrating incremental improvements creates motivation and makes the process fulfilling. With time and perseverance, progress can lead to mastery. Additionally, drawing comparisons between yourself and others tends to be unproductive.
Making Progress in Different Areas of Life
Adopting a perfectionist attitude can leave you feeling overwhelmed, especially if there are several areas in your life where you would like to make improvements. But don’t be discouraged - you can focus on progress in all aspects of your life if you break down goals into manageable steps, making progress feel attainable. Here are some examples:
Health
Walk 10 minutes per day this week, 15 minutes next week, building up to 30 minutes daily.
Try one new vegetable or fruit per week to improve nutrition.
Drink 8 glasses of water daily instead of soda or juices.
Relationships
Call a family member or friend you've lost touch with.
Schedule a weekly date night with your partner.
Volunteer once a month to meet new people.
Career
Learn a new skill by taking an online course for 30 minutes, 3 days a week.
Network by connecting with one new LinkedIn contact daily.
Apply for a promotion when you meet 70% of the qualifications.
Hobbies
Practice your instrument 15 minutes per day before increasing practice time.
Take a beginning art class to learn fundamental techniques.
Join a recreational sports league to stay active and social.
The key is setting manageable steps that gradually lead you toward your larger goals. Maintaining consistency with small actions is crucial for progress and it helps you to enjoy the journey.
Dealing with Setbacks
Setbacks are a natural part of progress. Don't let them discourage you. When you encounter obstacles, it's easy to feel frustrated and want to give up. But with the right mindset, setbacks can actually help you improve. Here are some strategies for bouncing back:
Practice self-compassion. Be kind to yourself when you make a mistake or fall short of your goals. Criticizing yourself will only make you feel worse. Recognize that imperfection is part of the process. More on this topic in my blog: How I Learned To Stop Hating on Myself.
Learn from your mistakes. Reflect on what went wrong and how you could do things differently next time. Setbacks show you where you still need to improve. View them as opportunities for growth.
Take a break. If you're burned out, take some time to rest and recover. Taking a short break can give you a fresh perspective. Come back recharged and motivated.
Focus on progress. Look at how far you've come, not just what remains. Celebrate small wins and milestones along the way. Progress takes time, so be patient.
Get support. Talk to a mentor or join a community of others pursuing the same goals. You don't have to go it alone. Support can help you stay motivated when things get tough.
With perseverance and the right mindset, you can bounce back from any setback. Remind yourself that some struggle is necessary for progress. Keep your eyes on the larger goal and don't give up. Consistent effort over time leads to results. You know you can do it!
Creating a Culture of Progress
As a leader, manager, or parent, it's important to demonstrate imperfect progress for your team or kids. Avoid setting unrealistic expectations of perfection. Instead, focus on praising effort and growth, not just the end outcomes. Recognize incremental achievements and celebrate small wins. Frame setbacks as learning experiences, not failures. Share your own struggles and missteps in a genuine way. Show that meaningful change takes time through consistent incremental improvement. Guide others to adopt a growth mindset focused on progress over perfection.
Most importantly, lead by example in your own actions. Pursue progress in your skills and goals, being comfortable with gradual advancement. Verbally reinforce that the journey is more valuable than the destination. Make it safe for those around you to take risks, make mistakes, and chart their own developmental path. With your encouragement, they will be more likely to sustain motivation and feel fulfilled by pursuing progress rather than perfection. In doing so, you help instill persistence, resilience, and an appreciation for lifelong learning. My very first laboratory manager did this for me. She instilled confidence in me when I repeatedly applied two chemicals out of sequence in test I was performing regularly. When I realized what I’d done and explained it to her, she simply and compassionately replied, “Mistakes are usually our best teachers.”
Progress Takes Time
Meaningful improvement is a long game of small gains accumulated over time. The fable of tortoise and the hare illustrates this well - slow and steady wins the race, not a quick burst of effort. Progress compounds, much like how compound interest works. The earlier you start with small, consistent actions, the greater the long-term results.
It's easy to get impatient and want major breakthroughs and instant results. But real change tends to happen gradually. So, a better mindset is to focus on progress, not perfection. Enjoy the process and satisfaction from incremental gains, avoiding unrealistic expectations. With time and persistence, small improvements made routinely lead to excellence. Maintain motivation by tracking progress, celebrating milestones, and focusing on the next step rather than the end goal.
Trust the process, and most importantly - keep showing up. Stay patient and committed. Progress will unfold over time. The key is to not stop when progress feels slow. Keep taking those small steps forward. It all adds up. The only way to fail is to quit. As long as you keep making progress, you will get there.
Conclusion
Striving for perfection can often hold us back from making progress and achieving our goals. It's common to fixate on perfecting every detail before advancing, but that quest for flawlessness can prevent us from taking action and gaining experience that leads to growth.
Rather than demanding perfection right out of the gate, it's better to focus on consistent progress and improvement over time. Each step we take towards a goal builds momentum and compounds, even if our initial efforts are imperfect. The journey of growth is not linear. There will inevitably be mistakes and setbacks along the way. But by embracing a mindset of progress over perfection, we give ourselves the freedom to learn as we go while still making forward movement.
The key is being patient with ourselves and celebrating small wins and achievements, not getting discouraged when something doesn't go perfectly. Over time, those incremental gains add up to incredible results. It's about the long game of bettering ourselves little by little through consistent effort. If we keep showing up and trying our best, we will get where we want to go. The journey itself brings invaluable lessons and fulfillment. Rather than demanding immediate perfection, we can find joy in the process of progress.
Action Steps
Focusing on progress over perfection is an ongoing process that requires perseverance and patience. Here are some simple, actionable steps you can take to keep making forward progress:
Set realistic goals that you can achieve gradually (the original topic of this blog!). Break big goals down into smaller, measurable steps. Celebrate each small win.
Track your progress. Use a journal, app, or progress chart to document your improvement over time. Seeing progress motivates you to keep going.
Learn from setbacks. Don't beat yourself up over slip-ups. Reflect on what you can do differently next time. Every stumble contains a lesson.
Replace perfectionism with curiosity. When you mess up, get curious about what you can learn. Curiosity helps you improve without self-judgment.
Focus on effort and improvement, not results. Outcomes are often out of your control. Make progress itself your goal rather than specific external markers.
Give yourself permission to be a beginner. Remind yourself that you're just starting out and don't have to be great right away. Focus on incremental growth.
Celebrate small wins. Recognize each little bit of forward momentum, no matter how minor it seems. Small victories build your confidence.
Find a community or accountability partner. It helps to have others cheer you on and encourage you to keep making progress.
Keep going. Don't get discouraged by setbacks. Progress takes patience and perseverance. Focus on the next step, not the entire journey.
Thank you for reading this blog post! If you enjoyed the content and want to learn more about the topics discussed, I highly recommend checking out my book, REFLECT: A Perspective on Understanding Your Reality and Becoming Unstuck. In it, I dive deeper into the strategies and insights shared in this post, offering even more valuable information and practical advice. Click here to order your copy of REFLECT today! You can also visit my website for more information.