09/02/2026
Have you ever believed the myth that perfectionism is actually a good thing or that you need it to motivate yourself to achieve your goals? The truth is that perfectionism is not actually helping you achieve; in fact, it's probably holding you back! Perfectionism often causes anxiety, stress, depression, and other feelings that get in the way of your thinking clearly or creatively. It comes with behaviors like procrastination, avoidance, ruthless self-criticism, and overthinking. Remember that you matter and you are more valuable than your achievements or test scores can ever reflect. Instead, try treating yourself with warmth and understanding, especially when things don't go perfectly. That's what real progress looks like: setting realistic goals and working toward them with determination, not perfection.
Alt text for accessibility: The Crushing weight of perfection. A brain strains to hold up a rock that has the words: not good, fail, and be better written across it.