Hold it, Console it, Correct it, Forget it

Finding peace by letting go of perfectionism in writing.

Oct 04, 2025

The moment that I hit the ‘submit’ button my breath gets lodged in my throat. The fear of anything less than perfection takes over me as my mind begins to spiral. The confetti on the Canvas page, although a small and often meaningless reward for the hours spent on my projects, do not mean anything to the lump in my throat. I fear a bad grade, and I always have.

After a long time of fear surrounding imperfection, I am beginning to let go of my minute, obsessive corrections. It is a habit to continue to work on, but one that I share honestly.

Growing up as a chronic overachiever turned kid with burnout took over much of my early life. After all, my environment seemed to blossom with kids that were exceptional at math, and as I grew older I became passionate about writing rather than numbers. Perfectionism undoubtedly played a role in this, paralyzing me with that same nervous ambition to excel, only this time without the skills to succeed as significantly as my peers Where my differences once separated me now feel like great strength.

Why do I share this honestly? Well, because perfectionism can be both a strength and a weakness, much like writing. In my situation, it is about finding balance between the endless corrections and knowing that I more than suffice.

Let this be a message to all of the perfectionists out there to find balance, embrace your differences, and fall in love with writing yet again. Enjoy the childlike wonder of a story, find peace in spending just one less hour on your paper, and learn to love your skills as unique, regardless of a differing environment.