3 Lessons I Wish I Had Known Earlier

From Perfection to Progress

I used to chase perfection in everything I did, believing that if I wasn’t perfect, I wasn’t enough. It consumed my energy, my time, and my sense of self-worth.

Now, I understand the value of embracing progress over perfection. I’ve found more peace and fulfillment in allowing myself to grow rather than obsessing over being flawless.

These are 3 things I wish I had known earlier:

Lesson #1: Progress Matters More Than Perfection

I used to believe that success was only for the perfect—the ones who never made mistakes. But that’s not true.

It took me years of burnout and self-doubt to realize that taking imperfect action was more important than waiting for the perfect moment.

This lesson is important because perfection is a myth that keeps you stuck. When I embraced progress instead of perfection, I learned to take risks, grow through challenges, and actually move forward.

Lesson #2: Rest Is Productive

If you don’t know this lesson, this happens:

You overwork yourself.

You lose motivation.

Then, you hit a wall and can’t recover easily.

That’s why you need to understand that rest is not the opposite of productivity—it’s a part of it. When I started scheduling intentional downtime, I became more focused, creative, and effective in everything I did.

Lesson #3: Self-Worth Comes From Within

Self-worth is like a deep well—you have to fill it from the inside. I used to look for validation from achievements and others’ opinions, but it always left me feeling empty.

This lesson taught me to value myself for who I am, not just what I do. It helped me set boundaries, say no when needed, and live a life aligned with my values.

If you want to feel fulfilled and authentic, you need to stop outsourcing your self-worth.

After I learned these 3 lessons, my life changed from chasing external validation and burning myself out to living with intention, peace, and self-compassion. Forget the nightmare:

1. I take action without fear of imperfection.
2. I rest guilt-free and feel energized.
3. I trust my worth and no longer need anyone else’s approval.

And that’s how I turned my chaos into clarity—by learning these lessons, one step at a time.

Elevate Souls, Embolden Spirits. 🌿

~ Laura

This content was originally published on my Substack @ the link here.