Busting through the blocks of fear and perfectionism

How I stopped standing in my own way

For a long time, I let the fear of not being good enough—of not being perfect from the get-go—stop me from taking action. I didn’t even realize it at first. Perfectionism was so ingrained in me that I saw it as a strength. And in many ways, it was. Everything I did, I did really, really well. But the downside? If something didn’t feel like it would meet my impossibly high standards, I wouldn’t even start.

For years, I didn’t recognize this as self-sabotage. I just told myself I wasn’t “ready” yet. That I needed more time. More knowledge. A better plan. But deep down, the truth was this: I was afraid. Afraid that my first attempt wouldn’t measure up. Afraid of being disappointed in myself. Afraid of falling short.

The Turning Point

When I launched my blog about 10 years ago, I almost didn’t do it. Not because I lacked ideas or passion, but because I was terrified it wouldn’t be “good enough.” It wasn’t until I went through my yoga teacher training that I had a major realization—I was the one blocking my own way. My fear of imperfection was keeping me stuck. And the only way forward was to just start.

So I did. I took that first uncomfortable, awkward step. And you know what? It broke the ice. I survived. And then I took another step. And another. And with each one, it became so much easier. That first moment of courage was all it took to shift things.

Progress Over Perfection

Lately, I’ve been tapping into courage in a whole new way. Last week alone, I had a few firsts—things that once would have paralyzed me. But instead of overthinking, I just did them. Imperfectly. And it felt amazing. Because at the end of the day, taking action—even messy, uncertain action—creates momentum.

Waiting until we feel “ready” is a trap. Perfection is a moving target. And the only way we truly get better at anything is by doing it. Over and over.

The Power of Supportive Women

One of the biggest shifts for me has been surrounding myself with women who take bold, imperfect action. Seeing them build incredible lives—not by waiting for perfection but by simply going for it—has given me the kick I needed. Being in supportive networking groups like the YES Collective lead by Jennifer Jane Young has helped me catch myself when perfectionism starts creeping in again.

So here’s my new mantra: Progress over perfection. I’d rather take imperfect action and move forward than stay stuck waiting for some unattainable version of “ready.”

If you’ve ever felt this way—if perfectionism has held you back—let this be your permission slip. Take the leap. Start before you feel ready. The first step is always the hardest, but once you take it, everything shifts.

Resource to dive deeper into this topic

This Wednesday, March 12 at 7:30 pm, a new meditation focusing on busting through the blocks of fear will be available on my Instagram account (check it out here). Namaste

Geneviève