Your Mindset is the Real Obstacle
Being Perfect Is Not A Prerequisite
Everyone seems to have the next big answer.
But what about your big project?
The idea you were genuinely excited about - is it still just sitting, gathering metaphorical dust?
Maybe that first rush of excitement has faded, and now, thinking about it
feels a bit… heavy.
If it does, you’re not the only one.
A lot of smart, capable people get stuck. It’s not usually because they’re out of ideas or don't have the skills.
The real problem is their mindset.
That Old 'Not Quite Good Enough' Feeling
Let's think about someone, we can call her Sarah.
Sarah has great insights and wants to share what she knows.
She'll start a new project full of energy. But then, things start slowing down.
She might rewrite one sentence ten times. That paragraph she liked yesterday?
After staring at it for an hour today, it just doesn't sound right. Then she looks at what other people are doing.
Their work seems so polished, so confident. And that little voice pops up, you know the one? "Yours isn't as good. It's not as original. Maybe leave it."
Pretty soon, that project that felt exciting now just brings on stress.
Any deadlines, even ones she set for herself, just come and go.
Her folder of 'works in progress' grows like a weight on her shoulders.
It’s tiring trying to be like someone else, or trying to hit some perfect standard that doesn't even exist.
Your real power, your best work, comes from you.
What's Going On Here?
What if the biggest thing stopping you from sharing your work isn't your talent, how good your idea is, or even if you have enough time?
What if it’s not about finding another productivity trick or some "perfect framework"?
Because you know what? You are your own best framework.
Often, the real roadblock is a thought pattern that’s probably been around for a while, telling you that what you create has to be perfect before anyone else can see it.
I’ve seen this hold so many people back. I’ve dealt with such a thought process myself.
That internal resistance makes you want to dig your heels in if someone gives you unsolicited advice, right?
But there is a way to move forward. It’s not about fighting harder; it’s about thinking a bit differently.
It’s about connecting, first with yourself, and then with the people you want to reach, like how a good story can draw people in when a list of facts doesn’t.
'Good Enough' (And Why That's Great)
Let's get back to Sarah.
Instead of trying to force her way through, she starts to get curious about the ever-critical voice in her head.
She starts to pay attention to the specific thought that appears when she’s close to finishing something: "If this isn't perfect, everyone will see I’m not as good as I think I am."
That’s a tough thought to face.
But instead of letting it stop her, she tries a different approach:
She acknowledges the Thought: Sees it for what it is, without judging it right away. "Oh, that thought again - saying I’m a fraud."
She Asks Some Gentle Questions: "Okay, is that 100% true? Will everyone think I'm a fraud if this isn’t perfect? Have I ever gotten value from something someone else did, even if it wasn't flawless? What’s a more realistic way to look at this?" She realizes that the work that connects most deeply often comes from being real, not perfect.
She Tries One Small, Imperfect Step: With this slightly new viewpoint, she decides to try something. Maybe she shares a small part of her project with someone she trusts. Or she hits 'send' on an email or a post without reading it for the twentieth time. She focuses on sharing, on wanting to connect, instead of that impossible idea of perfection.
The Freedom in Sharing Your Real Work
So, what happens for Sarah - and you, won’t be a huge, dramatic change.
She doesn’t suddenly stop having self-doubts, nor will you!
But by changing the relationship to thoughts, fear starts to loosen its hold.
You’ll feel a surprising sense of relief when you share your work, even the "good enough" version.
Someone will like that "imperfect" piece.
It might start a conversation.
The sky doesn't fall.
New opportunities and connections start to materialise.
You’ll begin to find some of that original joy in creating again, buried under all that pressure.
You’ll realize that your unique way of looking at things, the way you speak from the heart about what you care about, will inspire others.
That real power is in connection.
People want validation. That they're better than they think.
Get rid of that. Most would succeed.