Excellence vs. Perfection

Excellence and perfection might sound like they belong in the same family, but trust us—they’re distant cousins at best. While striving for excellence is about pushing yourself to be your best, perfectionism is that nagging relative who insists nothing you do is ever quite good enough.

Excellence is all about progress. It’s showing up, learning from mistakes, and taking pride in improvement. Perfection, on the other hand, sets an impossible standard, leaving no room for flaws (or fun, for that matter).

The difference lies in the impact. Excellence builds confidence, encouraging you to trust your effort and embrace growth. Perfectionism feeds on fear—fear of failure, judgment, and imperfection—which often leads to stress, anxiety, and burnout.

Research backs this up: perfectionism has been linked to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout, while excellence fosters resilience and satisfaction. A study in the Psychological Bulletin found that striving for perfection often increases stress without improving performance. On the flip side, a focus on progress and growth—hallmarks of excellence—can lead to better results and greater well-being.

Take a musician as an example. Striving for excellence means practicing hard to give a memorable performance, accepting that minor mistakes won’t overshadow the brilliance of their craft. Perfectionism, however, might paralyze them with the fear of missing a single note.

Aiming for excellence lets you grow and evolve. It invites creativity, resilience, and joy into the process. So, the next time you’re chasing a goal, ask yourself: am I striving to improve, or am I chasing an impossible standard? Spoiler alert: excellence is the way to go.