Let’s rewind to the last week of December 2020. I was working full-time as a therapist seeing 30-35 clients per week in the wake of the pandemic and I was not ok. The last week of December I was sobbing to my mom on the phone, complaining of a host of physical ailments that were abnormal for me.

I was burnt-out and I didn’t know it.

In fact, most people who are burnt out don’t know it.

Perfection. We’ve all chased it at some point in our lives.

But guess what? None of us ever achieve it. So, why do we keep running after it? Well, for starters perfection is alluring. It symbolizes a heightened level of wisdom, beauty, knowledge, experience…fill in the blank.

But let me hit you with three truths about perfection.

Let’s talk about perfectionism’s distant relative, impostor syndrome. Impostor syndrome is a belief that you are less competent, talented, intelligent, etc than what others believe or perceive you to be. Those with impostor syndrome fear their believed shortcomings will be found out and they’ll be exposed for who they “truly” are…incompetent and a failure.

What you think is a problem isn’t the problem.

You read that right, what you think is a problem generally isn’t the problem.

Let me fill you in on a secret. I’ve moved twice within the last year and both times I refused to purge my closet. I told myself “I have so much to pack” “I don’t have time for this” “And I’ll do it later.” This was pure avoidance, if I was being honest with myself I didn’t want to clean out my closet, it’s a task I’ve always struggled with (in a non-hoarder type of way) because I think I’ll learn to like an article of clothing again, fit into it again, or hold onto an outfit for sentimental value.

Do you have a goal? Something you’ve set your sights and energy on?

BUT…when you drop into working on that goal you feel stagnant, you’re frustrated that you’re not making progress, and you’re on the brink of giving up, or worse, maybe you’ve already given up.

So, let’s talk about five things that are keeping you stuck and holding you back from making progress on your goals.