This week I've been thinking about a question nobody seems to ask perfectionists.
Not "why do you work so hard?" Not "why can't you just relax?"
But this: what happens when the bar keeps moving every time you reach it?
Because that's what actually happens, isn't it?
You complete the task. You notice what's missing. You improve it. You notice what's still missing. You improve it again.
And somehow, "done" never quite arrives.
Empty space, drag to resize
We talk a lot about burnout from overwork. But there's another kind of exhaustion that's harder to name.
It's the tiredness that comes from never finishing anything.
Not because you're lazy. But because your definition of "finished" keeps moving.
The bar rises every time you reach it.
And the cruel irony? The better you get, the higher the bar goes. Success doesn't satisfy the perfectionist — it just raises the stakes.
This is the exhaustion cycle of perpetual improvement. And it has nothing to do with your standards being too high.
It has everything to do with not trusting that enough is real.
Empty space, drag to resize
When you notice the bar moving — when "done" becomes "almost done" again — try saying this to yourself:
"This is complete for now. I can always return."
Not "this is perfect." Not "this is my best work." Just: complete for now.
It acknowledges that improvement is always possible, while giving yourself permission to stop. To submit. To move on.
Completeness is not the same as perfection. But it might be the more honest goal.
Empty space, drag to resize
I'd love to know: what does "good enough" look like for you this week?
Fell free to me. Even one sentence. I read every response.
With calm,
Ricky
Creator, Embracing Imperfection Academy
