Hello Felix Brabander,

Have you ever postponed completing a project because it wasn’t quite perfect yet? Or spent hours polishing a small detail that others might not even notice? For sensitive high achievers, the desire to produce excellent work can be both a strength and a stumbling block. Today, let’s talk about finding balance between having high standards and embracing the reality that done can sometimes be better than perfect.

Why Perfectionism Can Be Draining

At first glance, perfectionism seems like a virtue. After all, who doesn’t want to deliver top-notch results? But there’s a line where high standards shift into unhealthy territory, leading to:

1. Paralysis by Analysis

• You spend so much time scrutinizing each aspect of a project that you struggle to move forward.
• Instead of feeling accomplished, you end up stuck and anxious.

• Perfectionism often comes hand-in-hand with harsh self-criticism.
• If something isn’t flawless, you might beat yourself up or feel like an imposter—even if you’ve done a great job.

• Working tirelessly to meet impossibly high standards depletes your energy and creative spirit, leaving you exhausted.
• This can decrease overall productivity and enjoyment in what you do.

Fear that “good enough” isn’t truly enough? The truth is, sometimes the pursuit of perfect is what keeps you from reaching the finish line at all. However, take your time to let that sink in a bit more 😊.

Focus: Balancing High Standards with Healthy Flexibility

Healthy ambition pushes you to grow, innovate, and excel. But when ambition morphs into unyielding perfectionism, it can undermine your mental well-being and block genuine progress. Here’s how to find balance:

1. Set Realistic Expectations

• Ask yourself: Is this goal demanding excellence or demanding perfection?
• Challenge your all-or-nothing thinking. There’s plenty of space between flawless and failure.

• Break big projects into smaller tasks with measurable outcomes.
• Celebrate each milestone reached. This helps you see tangible progress rather than focusing solely on the end result.

• Give yourself permission to produce a first draft or a beta version.
• You can refine and improve later, rather than trying to get everything 100% right on the first go.

In summary: Spotting Perfectionism Before It Drains You

It can be tricky to notice when you’ve slipped into perfectionist mode. Look for these signs:

• Excessive Delays: You keep pushing deadlines or avoiding tasks because they’re “not ready yet.”
• All-or-Nothing Thinking: If a project isn’t executed perfectly, you consider it a failure.
• Relentless Self-Criticism: You speak to yourself in harsh terms, focusing on any flaws rather than acknowledging what’s working well.
• Overemphasis on Details: You find yourself overanalyzing small elements that have little impact on the broader project or outcome.

When you spot these patterns, pause and consider whether the extra time and energy spent is truly worth it—or whether you’re veering into diminishing returns.

Action Step: Finish Something at “Good Enough” and Celebrate

Today (or this week), identify a single task you can complete at a “good enough” level:

1. Pick a Task: It could be writing a short article, tidying a cluttered space, or preparing a presentation.
2. Set a Time Limit: Decide how much time you’ll spend, aiming for thoroughness but avoiding endless fine-tuning.
3. Deliver It: Once you reach “good enough,” finalize it or mark it as complete.
4. Celebrate Finishing: Acknowledge that you’ve reached a healthy stopping point. Instead of focusing on perceived flaws, focus on the sense of completion and what you did well.

This small exercise helps train your mind to recognize that there’s real value in progress, even if it’s not perfect.

Why This Matters

For sensitive high achievers, sustained success often hinges on your ability to manage perfectionism. Remember, you have so much creative potential, empathy and drive—don’t let the quest for flawless work sabotage your progress. There is so much joy waiting within that vast inner world of idea’s you have. Let it simply pop up and be surprised. That in itself will free you from stress, unlock more opportunities and keep you moving forward on the path to fulfilling your dreams.

Personal Note

For me creativity has two sides: it is very powerful and vulnerable at the same time. So, what to say?
Maybe just consider that support can be found in the knowledge that joy and selfcare are a happy couple that respect and reinforce each other, but in ever changing ways.

I acknowledge that anyone can use perfectionism to avoid the vulnerability of putting one’s work out there. So did I. Once I embraced a “progress over perfection” mindset, not only did I become more productive, I rediscovered the fun in creating and sharing, so much so that it became a habit of having it steadily pop up at the right moments.

Rooting for your success,

Felix Brabander
Founder of SensitiveHighAchievers.com