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Make things better by making better things.
Our whole idea of perfectionism is entirely wrong. We think it means to be flawless or to do a task without any errors. No rough edges left to sand.
But in actuality, the word perfect comes from the Latin word perficere. Broken down, per means complete, and ficere which means do.
In other words, perfect means to be completely done. It has nothing to do with the absence of errors. It means to be whole.
Flaws are a (perfect) place to hide. We can’t possibly share our work with the world if it isn’t without mistakes. But that is just an excuse. The best books could have been made better. So is the case for the best paintings, songs, and speeches. Perfect is complete despite the weaknesses of your work.
HT The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control