27. How to Break Free from Perfectionism in Midlife

How long have you been waiting to start the thing you know you’re meant to do?

Not because you don’t want it…
 but because it’s not “ready” yet…
 or you’re not “ready” yet?

In this episode, I’m getting real with you about something that held me back for way too long...perfectionism.

I’m sharing my own story of sitting in the waiting room… delaying my dreams, overthinking every step, and convincing myself I needed to be more before I could begin.

And then… the shift that changed everything:

👉 Finished is better than perfect.

This episode is your reminder (and honestly, your nudge) to stop waiting, start messy, and finally move forward in the direction your heart has been pulling you toward.

If this episode spoke to you, send it to a friend who’s been sitting on something she’s ready to start.

Because you’re not meant to stay in the waiting room.

You’re meant to live it.

🔥 Ready to go all in and stop playing small? Apply now for my 1:1 Mentorship—personalized support for women who are serious about creating real transformation. Limited spots available.

https://dianaguintuspeaks.com/coaching

✨ Want to stop doubting yourself and finally silence your imposter? Grab my free guide 5 Secrets to Overcome Imposter Syndrome right here! https://dianaguintuspeaks.myflodesk.com/silenceyourimposter

💕Come hang out with me on Instagram—I share daily encouragement, behind-the-scenes, and real-talk for midlife women just like you.https://www.instagram.com/dianag_speaks

Transcript

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Today, I want to talk to you about something I know you need to hear because this has the potential to truly change your life, to give you the shift you've been craving, and to help you finally move forward in a way that feels aligned, empowered, and true to yourself. So if you've been feeling stuck waiting or circling the same desires, friend, this conversation is for you. Welcome back to her next chapter. I'm your host, Diana Gintube, life coach, speaker, and a woman who's deeply passionate about helping you reconnect with yourself so that you can create a life that actually feels you aligned. Let me ask you something. How long have you been sitting in the waiting room of your life? Waiting until you feel ready, until you feel confident, until it's perfect, before you finally go after the thing you say you want. Because if you're like me and so many of the women I work with, you're not stuck because you don't know what to do. You're stuck because you're trying to do it perfectly. I can't tell you how many years I sat in the waiting room waiting to pursue public speaking because I thought I needed to sound more polished, more refined, more professional. And here's the irony as a multilingual speaker, that perfect way of speaking I thought I needed. Well, to this day, it still doesn't fully exist for me. And then there was my book. I told myself I needed to be smarter, more distinguished, more ready before I could write it. Or how about this one? I know you're gonna relate to this one, or maybe you're gonna laugh, but I thought I needed to lose a certain amount of weight before I could go live on social media platforms to promote my business. What does weight have to do with anything? What does a number on a scale have to do with being a powerful healer, a coach, or expert? Absolutely nothing. But there I was, waiting, delaying, holding myself back, all in the name of perfection. And here's what I finally realized: perfect is subjective. And at the same time, it's completely unachievable. Because no matter what you do, there will always be something you could tweak, you could fix, you could improve. So if you're waiting for perfect, friend, you will be waiting forever. I remember this one season so clearly. I was overwhelmed, confused, feeling lost. And I kept having these conversations with God. You know, the conversations, right? Those moments where you're just like, tell me what you want me to do, because what I'm doing, well, it's not working. And what became clear to me in that season was this: it wasn't that I didn't have a direction, it was that I hadn't fully committed. You see, I was quick to procrastinate, I was quick to quit, I was quick to feel discouraged when things didn't go my way or when they weren't perfect. Back then, I wasn't seeking help either. Because asking for help felt uncomfortable, vulnerable. And if I'm being really honest, what would people think? So instead, I'd hid behind perfectionalism, procrastination, and for a while it worked, it kept me safe, safe from failing, safe from being seen, safe from not feeling good enough. But then something shifted, and I knew I had to make a decision, a real one. I decided to stop waiting and to start committing to my gift, to my calling, to the mission I feel so passionate about and the work I knew I was meant to do. So I adopted this mantra just start, do it messy, finish just better than perfect. And let me tell you, that's when things started to shift for me. I launched my coaching practice, I declared myself a speaker and started speaking. I wrote my first book, and now I'm working on my second. Not because I was perfect, but because I was willing, I was committed. So let me ask you, what are you waiting for? What are you waiting on? Is it starting that business? Maybe you need to change careers, maybe you're ending a relationship or curious about starting a new one, going back to school, getting healthy, using your voice, whatever it is. This is your reminder. This is not the season for perfection. This is not the season for proving your worth. That job, it's over, friend. We've done it, okay? This is the season where you decide I am enough as I am. This is the season where you stop asking for permission. This is the season where you do things because you feel aligned, because they feel true to you, because they feel like you. And if someone doesn't like it, too dang bad. That's their problem. Let them keep it. Because you're no longer shrinking yourself to make other people comfortable. You are stepping into the version of you that finishes what she starts, that honors what matters to her, and that lets go of what no longer serves her. Perfection, well, it just keeps you waiting. It just keeps you stuck. So I want to leave you with this. Take some time over the next few days and really sit with ease. What have I been waiting to start and why? Where in my life am I hiding behind perfectionism? What would it look like to just start messy? And what could my life look like six months from now if I actually followed through? That is such a powerful one. What if you actually stepped out of the waiting room and committed to finishing all those things that you've started? And listen, you don't have to figure this out alone. If you're ready to get out of the waiting room and into action, I encourage you to check out the show notes. There are resources there to support you in this next chapter. Please reach out. I'm here for you. Because you deserve a life that feels aligned, empowered, and fully yours. I'm so glad you're here today. And if this episode spoke to you, share it with a friend who might be waiting to. Because sometimes this is the reminder she needs. Until next time.