A Not-So-Perfect Journey (That Changed Everything)
I built a life on achievement, until it stopped feeling like one. What came next wasn’t a bigger ladder, it was a better compass. Here’s the not-so-perfect journey that led me to Happy Perfectionist Coaching.
The Breakdown
I came to the desert for clarity and ended up bargaining with the universe for venom.
I was on day three of a silent meditation retreat, spine throbbing, brain spiraling, and my inner critic convinced I wasn’t meditating “correctly.” My perfectionism wouldn’t let me leave. If I left, I failed. And failing, even at spiritual enlightenment, was not an option.
So I found myself hoping for a snakebite, something dramatic enough to justify leaving without having to admit defeat.
But the problem wasn’t my failure to be perfect. The problem was the belief that I had to be.
The Cage of Achievement
For most of my life, perfectionism wasn’t a problem, it was my edge. It got me promoted, praised, and paid. I chased success like it owed me something. But behind every gold star was a growing sense that I was only as good as my last win.
I wasn’t chasing excellence, I was managing anxiety with productivity. I told myself it was ambition, believing that if I just achieved enough, proved enough, produced enough, I’d finally feel worthy. I didn’t see the cage I had built around myself because I was too busy decorating it with achievements.
The Breakthrough
That low point in the desert was my wake-up call. The moment I realized I’d built my life on a foundation of proving, pleasing, and pushing through. Something had to change. So I went looking for answers.
I dove into studying perfectionism, became a Certified Master Life Coach, and trained in advanced TEAM-CBT to find what actually works. Not just for managing stress, but for reprogramming the thought patterns driving it.
What I found changed everything. You don’t have to let go of your ambition, you just have to stop using it to measure your worth. This isn’t about softening your edge, it’s about sharpening your direction.
From Striving To Thriving
I know this path because I’ve walked it. And now I help other perfectionists find their own way forward.
If you’re tired of measuring your worth in output, if your inner critic needs a muzzle, and you’re ready for success that’s sustainable, not exhausting, I can help.
I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. I tailor every session to your perfectionist patterns, helping you keep what works and shift what doesn’t. Together, we untangle the mental traps, quiet the inner critic, and build habits rooted in clarity, self-respect, and real change.
This isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about raising your quality of life.
The First Step to Freedom
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to burn it all down or move to Bali to fix it. You don’t have to sacrifice your ambition to reclaim your sanity. You just need the right tools, and a way to make that driven mind your greatest asset, not your biggest obstacle.
You’ve walked the tightrope long enough. It’s time to feel the ground beneath your feet.
The Framework for Change
Perfectionism can be rocket fuel. It can also be a dumpster fire. The difference is how you manage it.
Come As You Are
Whether you’re stuck in self-doubt, burned out from overachieving, or simply tired of chasing gold stars that never seem to satisfy, we start from right there. No shame. No pressure. Just curiosity, honesty, and tools that actually help.
Evidence Meets Empathy
The framework I use blends science-backed strategies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and TEAM-CBT with a deeply human approach, one rooted in self-compassion, mindfulness, and acceptance. Together, we take on the perfectionist patterns holding you back.
Human, Not Harsh
We challenge the inner critic, not with toxic positivity, but with truth. You’ll learn how to show yourself kindness when your instinct is to push harder. How to shift your relationship with mistakes, uncertainty, and unmet expectations.
Small Steps, Real Movement
We move at your pace. We experiment. We laugh. Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is smile at the voice that told you mispronouncing a word in a meeting means you’re unfit for society.
Let Go to Grow
You don’t need to be fixed. You’re not broken. But you might be carrying patterns that no longer serve you, and I can help you let them go. One step at a time. One belief at a time. One breakthrough at a time.
