Break Free from Perfectionism: PSYCH-K + 10 Tips

Perfectionism might seem like a virtue but often acts as a barrier to optimal health and well-being. It involves an unrelenting pursuit of flawlessness and ties self-worth to unrealistic standards. This pressure to be perfect in all areas of life can lead to stress, anxiety, and health problems. PSYCH-K, an energy psychology technique, offers a pathway to break free from deep-seated beliefs through targeted exercises, creating a more compassionate approach to life.

Are YOU a Perfectionist?

Are you a perfectionist or do you have perfectionist tendencies? Answer the following questions to determine why and how perfectionism might play a role in your life.

• Is your self-worth determined by what you achieve?

• Do you feel like you’re never good enough no matter what you do?

• Are you hard on yourself and highly critical of your work?

• Do you find it hard to relax and perform tasks from start to finish?

• Is it hard for you to know when to stop or put things down?

Understanding the Root of Perfectionism

Perfectionism often stems from deep-seated subconscious beliefs about self-worth and safety, typically formed during childhood. If you experienced an environment your subconscious viewed as unsafe, you might strive for control and perfection as a protective mechanism. Without modifying these subconscious patterns, they can perpetuate limiting behaviors and continue to create challenges in adult life.

Perfectionism in Childhood

To overcome perfectionism, reflect on the limiting beliefs formed during your childhood. Children absorb ideas about self-worth from their surroundings, often equating success with receiving love and approval. Without the maturity to challenge these notions, negative comments from adults can deeply impact their self-image, reinforcing a lifelong pattern of striving for perfection as a means to feel safe and valued.

Reflect on how your childhood shaped your tendencies towards perfectionism:

• Praise and Pressure: Were you praised more for your accomplishments than your efforts? Did you feel constant pressure to perform, such as achieving straight A’s?
• Handling Mistakes: How were mistakes treated in your family—were they penalized or seen as learning opportunities?
• Influential Figures: Were you surrounded by perfectionists or highly critical individuals? How did their expectations affect you?
• Family Dynamics: Did you grow up in a household with mental illness or addiction? Consider how this may have influenced your need for control and perfection.

Methods to Overcome Perfectionism

Although you’re different now than when you were a kid, your subconscious programs remain the same unless you change them. PSYCH-K, a type of energy psychology, effectively shifts limiting beliefs related to self-worth and safety, moving you from a mindset of fear to one of self-love and abundance, thus aiding in overcoming perfectionism.

10 Tips for Breaking Free from Perfectionism

Perfectionism can deeply affect all areas of your life — relationships, work, finances, and health — leading to feelings of isolation and exhaustion. If unchecked, it results in unsustainable stress that may drive you toward self-destructive behaviors. To counter this, here are ten practical tips combined with PSYCH-K to help you move away from your inner critic and toward a healthier, more balanced life.

1. Know You’re Worthy

Self-compassion is the antidote to perfectionism. Remember, your worth is inherent and unconditional, not dependent on external achievements. Embrace self-compassion over criticism — this helps you see mistakes as learning opportunities, appreciate your journey, and enjoy life fully. Let go of insecurities and self-doubt, and allow your true potential to shine.

Expanding Compassion Exercise: This simple exercise enhances self-love and positivity. Stand in a quiet space in front of a mirror, feet hip-width apart, hands raised in a “V” shape, and smile. Spend three minutes looking into your eyes, offering yourself kind, loving words. Visualize this love expanding outward into the world. Practice daily to boost your confidence and compassion.

2. Love Yourself Unconditionally

Ready to create the most epic love story of your life?

Now is the time to fall madly in LOVE with… YOURSELF! Loving yourself unconditionally is the foundation for ALL love and success in your life. So love yourself like your life depends on it because it does! Your self-love determines the quality of your life and how you treat yourself sets an example for others. It’s not selfish to love yourself, it’s essential.

The most important thing you can do for yourself, others and this planet is to love yourself. When you love yourself it’s easier to LOVE what you do, who you’re with, and your life. The world needs more love and that starts with each individual. PSYCH-K can help you cultivate self-love and identify negative beliefs holding you back from experiencing this powerful emotion. The more you cultivate love and joy within yourself, the more you’ll spread love and joy everywhere. Start by Nourishing Yourself With Self-Love.

3. Get Perspective

Gaining perspective is crucial for overcoming perfectionism, especially when paired with PSYCH-K, which aids in reframing thoughts and beliefs. This combination helps you adopt a broader, more positive outlook by stepping back to view the big picture instead of obsessing over details. A practical way to shift perspective is to envision how someone who deeply cares about you sees you. Imagine their admiration and love, and let this visualization guide you to a more empowered and purposeful mindset. Feel their kind words and loving energy.

4. Lighten Up

Worry, stress, and fear weigh you down and lead to low vibrations. Instead, aim to laugh and enjoy life more. Laughter is one of the best ways to lighten up quickly. Life is challenging and always will be, otherwise, there would be no growth and that would be boring. Let’s get some giggles, chuckles and ab-aching laughs where peeing yourself is a possibility. Laughter is contagious, and when you allow yourself to experience it fully, it can help you feel more connected, present, and positive. “I wish I didn’t laugh so much,” said no one ever! Take a more playful perspective and don’t take things so seriously.

Remember that doing things that aren’t on your to-do list can boost productivity. Taking breaks to find joy and laughter can help you feel more energized, creative, and productive. So, how can you bring more laughter and joy into your life? Whether it’s watching a funny movie, spending time with loved ones, or taking a moment to appreciate the beauty around you, doing things that raise your vibes help you feel more connected to the present and inspired to co-create your dream life. Need support? PSYCH-K can help you let go of limiting beliefs and embrace a more positive, playful perspective.

5. Slow Down

When you’re on the never-ending hunt for perfection, it feels like there’s NEVER enough time. You feel pressure to get things done to your high standards while feeling rushed to meet deadlines. This creates a lot of STRESS. Slow down to get out of your head and connect with your heart. Slowing down helps you surrender to the present which is especially beneficial for perfectionists struggling with anxiety. Anxiety only lives in the future. Slow down to enjoy life more. Ease into your morning, savor each bite of food, smell the flowers, and read a good book. I recommend reading Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are.

6. Connect With Others

Most people love having perfectionists work for them, but don’t love having them as friends because they don’t always help others feel good about themselves. We like friends who are imperfectly human because we are too. It’s easier for us to relate and connect with others when they embrace their authentic selves instead of striving for some ideal that doesn’t exist. As a result, perfectionists often suffer from isolation and loneliness. Rather than pushing people away, let others in. You’re not alone and will make more progress with support.

7. Trust the Process

Trusting the process is a powerful tool for overcoming perfectionism and achieving greater success and happiness in life. When combined with PSYCH-K, this approach can be even more transformative. PSYCH-K can help you identify and reprogram any limiting beliefs or negative thought patterns that may be holding you back from trusting the process fully. By letting go of these limiting beliefs and embracing a more positive mindset, you can experience greater trust and faith in the unfolding of your life.

Perfectionism often stems from underlying beliefs of not feeling safe or good enough, leading to attempts to control the outcome. However, this approach often creates resistance and can push the desired outcome further away. By letting go and allowing things to unfold, you can exercise your trust muscle and let your faith rise above your fear. Trusting the process can lead to outcomes that are better than you could have imagined.

8. Shift Your Mindset

Perfectionists often see things in black or white. That was “good” or “bad.” I’m a “success” or “failure.” Rather than limiting yourself with this narrow mindset, open yourself up to ALL of the possibilities that exist. Get curious! How might this imperfection be a blessing? Rethink failures, mistakes, and imperfections. Shift your definition of success to having fun and being a life-long learner. View mistakes as opportunities to improve and see the beauty in imperfection. In Japan, they practice wabi-sabi, “to find beauty in imperfection.” For example, when a valuable piece of pottery breaks, they restore it with a lacquer mixed with gold, silver, or platinum. After this 500-year-old art of kintsugi or “golden joinery,” the imperfect piece becomes highly valued. Begin seeing the value in imperfection. 

9. Support Deep Healing

Perfectionism can trigger a stress response, which can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health. Many people with perfectionist tendencies also tend to have some level of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Stress is counterproductive to healing, and over 90% of doctors’ visits are stress-related. When you’re stressed, everything from digestion and energy to metabolism and brain function can become compromised. To support deep healing, it’s essential to Calm Your Nervous System and manage stress effectively.

It’s also beneficial to eat a high vibration diet that consists of whole foods and products made from whole food ingredients. Eat a wide variety of colorful foods and hydrate throughout your day. Keep stress low by making decisions from a place of love instead of fear. For example, don’t take your supplements because you fear not taking them will create dis-ease. Instead, take your supplements because you love how they make you feel. 

10. Start Small

The overwhelming fear of failure can prevent you from taking the next step. You can even get “paralysis by analysis” in which you analyze things so much you feel paralyzed. Rather than getting ahead of yourself by focusing on the end goal, break it down into small, doable steps. Then, approach each step as an experiment. If something doesn’t work, then change it. Permit yourself to get started, no matter what that looks like. Celebrate all progress, including mistakes! And remember that you’re worthy by being YOU, not based on what you accomplish. 

Take Action Breaking Free From Perfectionism

Now you see how destructive perfectionism can be and that there are tips and methods, like PSYCH-K, that can help you break free from perfectionism. Don’t let old b.s. (belief systems) prevent you from fully being yourself, connecting with others, and enjoying your life.

• Practice daily self-care to increase your self-love and self-worth

• Zoom out and laugh to get perspective and lighten up

• Slow down to connect more with yourself, others, and nature

• Surrender to the present moment and trust the process

• Find the beauty in imperfection and approach things with a curious mind

• Support deep healing by relaxing and enjoying your life more

• Make decisions based on love, not fear

• Break down your goals into small, doable steps and celebrate any “mistakes”