The Burden of Perfectionism
Perfectionism can feel like both a strength and a burden. As someone who is highly competitive and detail-oriented, I’ve learned that striving to be the best comes with immense pressure. But life has taught me something important: perfection isn’t the key to success—showing up and doing your best is. In this post, I share my journey with perfectionism, masking autism, and the lessons I’ve learned about being misunderstood. If you’ve ever felt the weight of high expectations—whether from yourself or others—this is for you. 💙 Let’s embrace growth, not perfection. Let’s move forward, even when things aren’t perfect. Because life is too short to hold yourself back. #autism #adhd #perfectionsim #ocd #pressuretobeperfect
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Ele
2/7/20252 min read
Moving Forward in Life is Greater Than the Pressure to be Perfect
Life has taught me many lessons, and this is one of the grandest ones.
I am a perfectionist. I am incredibly competitive, and I strive to be the best at whatever I do.
But this comes at a price. Yes, it means I can achieve great things, but it also means I put immense pressure on myself. I want to get my point across. I want everything to go right. I want to be the best.
But when things don’t go as planned…
Well, that’s a problem.
Being detail-oriented can be a strength, but it can also be a burden—especially when you focus on things that don’t truly matter. I know this struggle isn’t mine alone; it’s one many in the autistic community experience.
I love seeing the people around me grow and succeed, but sometimes my own high expectations can be misunderstood. It’s never about competing with others—it’s about pushing myself to be better. Yet, I’ve learned that this intensity can sometimes make people feel like I don’t want the best for them, even when I do. That’s why it’s so important to be mindful of how we come across, even when our intentions are pure.
As a woman, I’ve mastered the art of masking autism. Most people don’t realize I’m autistic because I’ve perfected the ability to blend in. I study people—the way they move, the shape of their eyebrows, the way their mouth forms words. I notice things others don’t, and I mirror them to make those around me feel comfortable.
To a T.
But masking comes at a cost. Sometimes people assume I’m inauthentic when, in reality, I’m trying to be considerate. I suppress parts of myself to create harmony, yet that very effort is often misunderstood. It’s a difficult feeling—to sacrifice your own comfort for others, only to be judged for it.
So today, I just want to remind you: You don’t have to be perfect. Life isn’t perfect. Roads aren’t perfect. Nothing is perfect.
The burden of perfectionism shouldn’t be the roadmap to success. The real roadmap to success is simply showing up and doing your best.
Fight for what you believe in. Keep moving forward. Show up as your best self—even when life's a mess. Because life is too short to do anything less.
Don't try to cover up things if you want others to see that you are doing your best, its unnecessary because people already know, people who care, know that you are trying your best, as long as you are doing your best, your best is enough.
Lastly remember, you should never have to prove yourself to someone who doesn't value you for what you value you for.
If someone doesn't value you for you, they aren't worth your time.