Managing Perfectionism: Why Chasing Progress Beats the Perfect Game

If you’ve ever missed a goal by inches, fumbled a pass, or slightly overcooked your post-game pasta (gasp!), you know the sting of imperfection. As athletes, we’re conditioned to push for greatness—to demand perfection from ourselves, no matter the cost. But here’s the kicker: perfectionism is like that teammate who calls for the ball but never takes the shot. It’s draining, distracting, and, ultimately, counterproductive.

Don’t get me wrong. Striving for excellence? That’s awesome. Chasing perfection? That’s a never-ending sprint on a treadmill cranked up to 10. And it’s exhausting. The secret to thriving both on the field and in life? Learning to embrace progress instead of perfection. Spoiler alert: you’re still going to be a star—just one who enjoys the game a whole lot more.

The Problem with Perfection

Perfectionism is like an overzealous referee: it nitpicks every move and blows the whistle for imaginary fouls. It convinces you that anything less than flawless isn’t worth celebrating. Missed one free throw in a 20-point game? Clearly, it’s time to hang up your sneakers (spoiler: it’s not). Finished third in a race with a personal best time? Perfectionism says you should’ve trained harder.

Here’s the reality: perfection isn’t achievable. No matter how many drills you run or how many hours you practice, you’ll never eliminate mistakes entirely. And you know what? That’s a good thing. Mistakes are where growth happens. They’re the unexpected plot twists in your story of progress. Without them, you’d just be a robot—and let’s face it, even robots glitch.

Progress: The Real MVP

Think back to when you first started your sport. Did you nail every move on day one? (If you did, congrats—but you’re the exception, not the rule.) Chances are, you’ve improved over time. That’s progress. And progress is what really matters.

Progress is messy, unpredictable, and beautiful. It’s missing the mark one day and hitting it the next. It’s watching your hard work pay off in increments instead of all at once. Progress doesn’t demand perfection; it rewards persistence. And persistence, my friend, is your greatest ally—whether you’re aiming for the starting lineup or crushing it in your career.

Embracing the Process

Perfectionism has a nasty habit of making everything feel like an end-all, be-all moment. That missed layup? Proof you’ll never be good enough. That typo in your email to a potential employer? Obviously a career-ruining disaster (hint: it’s not).

But progress shifts the focus to the process. It reminds you that every stumble is just part of the journey. Sure, that typo was cringey, but did you land the interview anyway? Progress. And yes, you missed the layup, but did you hustle back on defense and snag a steal? Progress.

Embracing the process means celebrating small wins along the way. Ran a mile faster than last week? High-five yourself. Learned a new skill? Throw a mini dance party (maybe not in public). These small victories build momentum, boost confidence, and keep you moving forward.

The Perfectionism Recovery Program

Step one: Give yourself permission to be human. Athletes are not immune to mistakes. In fact, the best athletes make mistakes all the time—they just don’t let them define their worth. Start by cutting yourself some slack. Would you judge your teammate as harshly as you judge yourself? No? Then extend yourself the same kindness.

Step two: Reframe your mindset. Instead of asking, “Did I do it perfectly?” ask, “What did I learn?” Shift the narrative from “I failed” to “I’m improving.” Mistakes aren’t failures; they’re data points that guide your next move.

Step three: Set realistic goals. Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for progress. Break big goals into smaller, manageable steps. If you’re working on your jump shot, don’t expect to hit 100 in a row right away. Start with 10. Then 20. Then 30. Progress is cumulative, and small steps lead to big wins.

Step four: Celebrate progress. Yes, even the tiny stuff. Hit the gym three times this week instead of two? Progress. Sent out a résumé for your dream internship? Progress. Finished this article without overthinking it? Progress (look at you go!).

Winning the Long Game

Here’s the thing: perfection is boring. It leaves no room for surprises, creativity, or growth. Progress, on the other hand, is where the magic happens. It’s where you discover what you’re made of, where you learn to adapt, and where you build resilience.

So, let go of the need to be flawless. Embrace the process, celebrate progress, and cut yourself some slack. Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to be perfect—it’s to be better than you were yesterday. And that, my friend, is a win worth celebrating.