Why Letting Go Matters for Our Well-Being and Our Children’s

Perfection is sneaky.

Even when we know it’s unrealistic, it still creeps into our thinking — our appearance, our work, our homes, our families, our achievements. And in a world where social media amplifies these expectations nonstop, the pressure can feel relentless.

No wonder so many adults — and kids — feel like they’re constantly falling short.

This week, we’re focusing on acceptance and self-love, two foundational pieces of emotional wellness and compassion.

Because when we soften perfectionism in ourselves, we naturally soften it for the children we care for.

How Perfectionism Shows Up (And Why It Hurts)

When we compare ourselves to others, we lose sight of our strengths. We forget how to:

• Celebrate who we are

• Nurture what we need

• Acknowledge our unique goodness

And unintentionally, we pass those same expectations onto children. We might:

• Praise only the loud or “accomplished” students

• Overlook the quiet gifts of the more sensitive ones

• Label shyness instead of noticing intuition

• Call someone “too emotional” instead of honoring their empathy

Perfectionism narrows the definition of success and teaches children to shrink to fit inside it.

The Good News - Things Are Shifting

The narrative around perfection is changing. People are naming the harm. We’re questioning the beauty standards, work expectations, and achievement culture many of us grew up with.

And I often ask myself:

Even if I achieved the image of “perfection” I grew up seeing… would I actually feel better Would my mental health improve?

This growing awareness gives me tremendous hope — especially for our kids. They’re growing up in a world that’s slowly (but steadily) making space for authenticity, difference, and emotional well-being.

What We Can Do as Educators, Parents, and Caregivers

We cannot remove perfectionism from the world — but we can reduce how much of it we pass on.

Here are a few practices that help me let go intentionally:

1. Celebrate mistakes rather than shrink from them.

Laugh when things go sideways. Name the learning. Normalize the messy middle.

2. Make room for flexibility.

Rigidity fuels perfectionism. Flexibility reminds kids (and adults!) that humans aren’t meant to be flawless replicas of one another.

3. Honor your strengths — even when you’re struggling elsewhere.

Confidence grows from noticing the good, even on hard days.

4. Look for imperfections in nature.

A torn butterfly wing. A petal that didn’t unfold just right. Imperfection is everywhere — and often beautiful.

Let it remind you: your humanity is not a flaw.

This Week’s Practice

As you move through your week, see if you can:

• Notice your mistakes

• Offer yourself a moment of acceptance or humor

• Look for beauty in imperfect details

• Reflect on your motivations:
  Are you striving from the heart — or from perfection-seeking?

Small shifts in awareness today can prevent the next generation from carrying the same heavy expectations we did. Let’s choose compassion — for ourselves and for them.