Letting Go of Perfectionism: A Lesson from My Son

Last weekend, my son and I spent a delightful afternoon painting small wooden mirrors for our home décor. As we admired our work afterward, I noticed one mirror had a small corner that wasn’t perfectly finished. Naturally, I reopened my paints, ready to fix it.

That’s when my son said, “Mummy, you don’t need to be a perfectionist—it looks great already.”

His words made me pause and smile.

For years, I believed perfection was the key to success and happiness. But instead of empowering me, perfectionism drained me. It kept me stuck in an endless loop of striving, never allowing me to feel “enough.”

Motherhood changed that. It taught me life isn’t about flawless execution—it’s about presence. It’s about embracing the mess, the unpredictability, and the beauty of life as it is.

Letting go of perfectionism has been a liberating journey. It’s helped me rediscover joy in the process, deepen my connections, and find peace in simply being whole—not perfect.

My son’s innocent words reminded me once again: Sometimes, “good enough” is more than enough.

To anyone struggling with perfectionism: You are enough just as you are.

Centering Thought

“Wholeness, not perfection, brings peace and joy.”

Takeaway Practice

This week, let go of one small thing you’re trying to perfect. Whether it’s a project, a task, or a personal goal, allow yourself to accept it as it is. Notice how it feels to embrace “good enough.”

Connection Idea

Have you ever let go of perfection and found unexpected joy or freedom? Share your story with someone close to you—it might inspire them too.

Closing Thought

Life isn’t meant to be perfect. It’s meant to be lived. Let’s choose presence over perfection and celebrate the beauty of “good enough.”

With love and gratitude,
Deepali

The artwork in the picture is by my dear friend Shikha Gupta. This beautiful Buddha pot, lovingly repaired by her using the kintsugi technique, symbolizes exactly that. Kintsugi, the art of mending broken pieces with gold, teaches us that flaws and breaks don’t diminish value—they add to it. They tell a story of resilience, transformation, and beauty in imperfectio