Why Progress Matters More Than Perfection and How to Start
"You need one brave step and the willingness to take another tomorrow."
Striving for Progress, Not Perfection
If you’re anything like me, you’ve been told all your life to strive for excellence, aim high, and keep pushing. But somewhere along the way, the pursuit of perfection began to hinder real progress. A vivid childhood memory comes to mind: bringing home a test and proudly showing my mom my 98% score, only to have her ask if I could have gotten 100%. I carried that high achievement mindset far into adulthood, quitting classes and even college majors because I wasn’t certain I could earn an A.
At Resilience for Progress, I’m flipping the script. The goal isn’t flawless achievement; it’s purposeful growth, even when the path is imperfect. We’ll explore why choosing progress, in all its messy and meaningful forms, is the key to building a life that feels fulfilling, resilient, and authentic.
Perfection Is Paralyzing
Have you ever delayed starting something: working out, making a budget, or having a tough conversation, because you didn’t feel ready? That’s perfectionism talking, and it’s sneaky. It convinces us that if we can’t do it flawlessly, we shouldn’t do it at all. The result? Feeling frustrated, overwhelmed and stuck.
But when we shift our focus from flawless execution to just gaining momentum, something powerful happens: we move forward. Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s slow. That forward movement builds confidence, clarity, and energy.
This mindset sets the foundation for the stories ahead. I believe stories of resilience are born not from perfection, but from embracing imperfection and more and more I’m practicing take imperfect steps toward meaningful change.
Progress in Real Life
Let me share a story about the moment I chose to take action despite not being perfect. After years of working out at my gym and falling in love with both the challenge and the community, I felt a persistent urge: I wanted to become a trainer. Yet, there was one obstacle standing in my way. To be considered, I had to demonstrate a series of fitness skills, one of which I hadn’t yet mastered: pull-ups. Without those darn pull-ups, the trainer idea felt way out of reach.
Thankfully, my husband knew how much this meant to me. When the gym announced a trainer showcase to learn more about the role and try it out, he looked at me and said, “Send the email. It’s just an email.”
And so, I did. And that one email changed everything.
I didn’t jump in right away. Life was full and my mom’s health was failing, so it took several months before I could realistically add training to my schedule. But the seed had been planted. I had taken the first step, and I knew I would come back to it.
A few months later, I was invited to join the team. Becoming a trainer, just a few hours a week, meant studying for my certification, passing the exam, and and setting a new weekly scheduled that involved waking up earlier than ever. But it also tapped into a true passion. Helping gym members reach personal milestones or feel like they truly belonged quickly became one of the highlights of my week.
And the pull-ups? I worked up to five. Some days, I still can’t do them all in a row. But I’m proud of my progress. It reminds me that growth isn’t always linear, and that showing up, even imperfectly, is what matters most.
Progress in Every Season
Progress doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Some seasons call for big leaps. Others ask us to take tiny steps. Sometimes progress means saying yes to something that scares you. And sometimes it means saying no to something that drains you.
What counts is that you keep choosing yourself and your values in the process.
Progress Builds Resilience
Every step you take, especially the imperfect ones, strengthens your ability to adapt, recover, and grow. That’s resilience. And resilience is what allows you to build a life that lasts through the highs and lows.
You don’t need a perfect plan. You need one brave step and the willingness to take another tomorrow.
Ready to Take Your Next Step?
Are you ready to explore what progress could look like for you? Join the Resilience for Progress retreat and step into a space designed to support your growth.