Growth Over Perfection
Excellence gently reminds me “Just do your best. It’s okay to make mistakes - that’s how you grow.”
Hello beautiful soul,
Sometimes, it’s the simplest things - a quiet run, a good conversation, an engaging podcast - that surface what needs my attention. This week, a podcast caught me off guard. One line reminded me that doing my best and being perfect are not the same.
In that moment, I felt God whisper, “Pay attention.”
So I did. I prayed, laced up my shoes, and went for a long fall run to let it sink in - to make space for what He might be revealing about the difference between striving from love and striving from fear.
Defining the Difference
Excellence is about striving to do your best, improving, and creating value.
Perfectionism is about fear - fear of mistakes, judgment, or not being enough.
Perfectionism often says, “You have to be perfect or you’ll fall short.”
Excellence, on the other hand, gently reminds us, “Just do your best. It’s okay to make mistakes - that’s how you grow.”
My Story with Perfectionism
Looking back, I don’t think I ever really knew the difference. Fear - of looking foolish, being judged, or not being enough - was just part of me. Sometimes it paralyzed me; other times it inflated my confidence to overcompensate. Praise or success felt like control, but criticism or judgment could send me into a spiral.
When I first started my business, everything had to be perfect or I wouldn’t share it at all. Growing up, being different, awkward and at times quite bossy pushed me to create a version of myself that felt acceptable. That striving took a toll: anxiety, sleepless nights, gut issues, relational strain.
But what if God isn’t asking for perfection - only for participation in growth?
Choosing Growth
Only recently have I learned to honor my own growth to celebrate small steps, even when I feel scared or unsure. Growth isn’t linear; it’s layered, messy, and holy. When we support each other in that process, when we show up as the imperfect humans God crafted us to be - that’s where the magic happens.
For me, excellence now feels internal. It’s about how I show up - rooted in love, growth, and service. It’s asking daily:
"God, how can I show up today as my best possible self, even when it feels heavy? How can I take one faithful step forward?"
Perfectionism is ego-driven - harsh, rigid, always looking outward for approval. Excellence is spirit-driven - grounded, freeing, and connected to something greater. Growth can be slow or fast, but it’s always sacred. Everyone’s growth looks different.
If you take one thing from this musing, let it be this:
Honor your personal growth. Strive for excellence, not perfection - and extend that same grace to others.
May you have the courage to release perfection and the grace to keep growing - trusting that God’s not looking for flawless, just faithful.
Reflective Prompts
Here are a few questions to reflect on this week, or journal if you feel called to:
Where am I holding back because I fear imperfection?
How can I celebrate small growth instead of obsessing over perfect results?
Scripture to Sit With
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." — Philippians 3:12
Closing Thoughts
As you head into your week, I hope you to know: I see you, I hear you, I stand with you in the middle of the growing, even when it feels messy or unacknowledged. Growth isn’t always loud or visible, but it’s happening - quietly, faithfully, beautifully.
Thank you for being here, for reading, for walking this journey alongside me. You’re not alone - I’m here too, cheering you on, praying with you, and believing that God is doing something good and deep in the soil of your story.
As we move through the last two months of the year, I’d love to hear from you:
Where do you feel growth stirring in your life right now?
What’s one area where you’re choosing progress over perfection?
Hit reply or reach out if something’s on your heart - I love hearing your reflections and stories.
Until next time,
Angie
