Perfection Is a Myth
I used to chase perfection.
For years, it was my standard—unspoken, exhausting, and impossible to meet. The bar was always set high.
It didn’t matter whether it was how I looked, worked, or showed up in life… it was never enough. I was always my worst critic.
Perfection is a shiny illusion sold to us on Insta, TikTok, and magazine covers—where the perfect body, career, relationship, and wardrobe are just one purchase away.
We know it’s a scam. But we buy into it anyway—over and over again.
Excellence, Not Perfection
Last week, I stumbled on a podcast episode that stopped me in my tracks.
Mel Robbins was interviewing Emma Grede (am I the only one who had never heard of her?) — she’s co-founder of Good American and SKIMS — and her story was not only inspiring, it was clarifying.
Emma talked about the difference between perfection and excellence — and that conversation really struck me; acting as a mirror of sorts, as I realized I have slid in the excellence department.
Perfection is only about what is outside of yourself.
It’s how you look. How you perceive others perceive you.
Excellence is all about creating your best self from within. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the outside world, people’s opinions, or what you should be wearing this fall.
It’s about how you approach anything and everything in your life. How you wake up, how you get ready, even how you prepare a meal. As Emma shared, “how you do anything is how you do everything.”
I first encountered the concept of living with excellence in my mid-30s. As a recovering perfectionist, excellence gave me something positive to reach for. It became a new North Star.
I learned that it’s not about doing everything right or meeting a certain high bar— it’s about doing everything with love, with intention, and with care.
Excellence Is the Invitation 🥂
Pull out the china.
Sleep in your favorite linens.
Wear the good jewelry.
Take the scenic route.
Show up when it matters—and even when it doesn’t.
Take the time to do a good job, always.
That’s not extra. That’s excellence.
Don’t Know Where to Start?
Emma said something else that really stayed with me:
“If you don’t know what you’re passionate about… then pursue yourself.”
Ask:
- How can I be healthier?
- How can I be better?
- How can I feel more energized?
The rest follows.
Here’s the Big Takeaway:
🌟 Perfection keeps you stuck in fear.
🌟 Excellence moves you forward in love.
And when you start living with that energy, people notice. Life responds differently. You attract the right people, opportunities, and clarity.
“When you take responsibility for your life and your thoughts, anything is possible.”~ Emma Grede
That’s the shift. That’s the answer.
You don’t need to chase perfect.
You just need to show up fully — as the person you’re becoming.
Let excellence be your compass.
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You Can Emerge Positive.
Positively,
Deanne
