How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism

by Stephen Guise

Faking confidence action: To make this specific and actionable, commit to act confidently (even if you feel otherwise) in at least one situation per day. “Fake” confidence by acting confidently even when you don’t feel it.

Change your benchmark action: For any task that intimidates you or that you feel you don’t measure up to, lower your benchmark to something you know you can do.

Rebellion action: Perform an act of rebellion against social norms or expectations once per day.

Accomplishment journal action: Decide where to write your accomplishment journal (notepad, computer, cell phone) and write at least one thing you’ve accomplished (or a positive trait you have) once per day until you can’t think of any more.

Binary mindset action: In an area that you fear making mistakes, create a binary perspective. Then go out and get the win! To make this a daily action, require yourself to define a binary setup applicable to your life OR to achieve a binary win that you’ve defined.

Failure is never as discouraging as doing nothing is. That’s why the binary mindset is gold.

Easier success action: Create and pursue daily mini habits to make daily success too easy to turn down. Make success easier than failure, and you’ll succeed.

Modular success action: When your day begins, don’t aim for success, aim for progress, and accept it in any size. Think abou...

...about this idea for one minute per day.

Anti-projection action: When you’re doubtful of doing something and projecting negative scenarios, write them down in detail. Have a predetermined place to write it down or you won’t do it. Then experiment in that situation and compare the actual results to your projection.

Faster decisions action: Once per day, present yourself with four options relevant to your plans—such as what to eat for lunch or dinner, chores/tasks you could do right now, people you could call on the phone, etc.—and write them down quickly on a piece of paper. Take your time to formulate the ideas, but once they are all written down, circle one of them as fast as you can, feeling at least reasonably comfortable with your choice. Scratch out the others emphatically. Aim for less than 10 seconds to choose. Whichever one you circle, commit to doing it that day.

Outcome analysis action: For an action you’re doubting, run it through this easy analysis: Worst case severity: Think of the worst thing that could happen and rate the severity 1-10. If you’re considering starting a garden, you don’t have to think of things like, “being struck by lightning in the garden as I’m stepping on a wasp.” Choose a realistic worst-case scenario. Worst case likelihood: Rate the likelihood of your worst-case scenario happening (very unlikely, unlikely, 50/50, likely, very likely). Best case benefit: Think of the best-case scenario and rate its impact. Don’t think of things like, “While harvesting green beans, a beautiful woman in a white dress approaches me.” What’s the realistic best-case scenario and how great would it be? Best case likelihood: Rate the likelihood of your best-case scenario happening (very unlikely, unlikely, 50/50, likely, very likely). Most likely case: Think about what’s most likely to happen and how you’d feel about it.