What is perfectionism? It’s a people pleasing, procrastinating and putting an absolutely insane amount of pressure on yourself to have everything figured out, attribute in your life. Not only does it begin to slowly drain you but runs and rules the way you live your life. In your twenties, you’ll find yourself over thinking certain situations, constantly trying to be the best, and fighting failure after failure, in which perfectionism feeds on. This unwilling leads to a negative self-image and undoubtedly an unhealthy mindset. Rather than thinking of yourself as a total failure for simple mistakes, instead reroute your thinking and unleash the perfectionism that may be holding you back. Understanding the ideas below, will help you realize that perfectionism isn’t who you are.

1. Perfectionism is fear

Perfectionism makes the difference between ambition and fear unclear. Those insanely high standards we set for ourselves isn’t ambition talking, it’s the fear of rejection, fear of judgment, fear of criticism, fear of failure. Perfectionists constantly try to do more, achieve more and be more in order to protect themselves from ‘what other people will think’. But in reality who cares? You need to take time to realize how far you have come rather than feeling like you haven’t done enough.

2. Being a perfectionist makes you achieve less, not more.

As some may believe that perfectionism helps you achieve your goals, it actually does the opposite. It downgrades your goals because you become terrified of disappointment, which deteriorates from your goal in the first place. This transpires into a negative cycle of taking forever to get your goals started because you want everything figured out before and once you do start, you abandon your goal at the first sign of failure. Stop allowing perfectionism to take hold of your achievements, start doing you.

3. Perfectionism is procrastination

Perfectionism and procrastination go hand in hand. Why? Once the high standards you set reach an unbearable point you may feel like there is no point in even trying. Stop. One it’s a great thing that you are setting standards but realize you are just human and somethings take time and somethings may be unsuccessful, yet that doesn’t mean you are a failure. Instead of taking time thinking of a thousand reasons how something could go wrong, save time and do it now, regardless of the outcome.

4. Perfectionism is laziness

Perfectionism can easily look like laziness and a lack of motivation. And that’s because perfectionism makes you shrink your world so you’re only doing things you’re good at. Which means you abandon healthy habits the moment you slip up, you struggle to stay consistent and you spend way too much time planning. Instead of fueling energy into mindless thoughts, learn how to do things we aren’t good at, you may surprise yourself.

5. Perfectionism isn’t who you are

Perfectionism is a mindset and, like any mindset, it can be changed. You cannot let your mistakes, worries, or fears define who you are. I can’t promise that being twenty something I a walk in the park but I do promise you are good enough.