The Real Reason You Haven’t Started Yet
How Perfectionism Stops Progress — And What to Do Instead | Jo Renshaw Life Coaching, Brighton, UK
There’s a particular kind of stuckness that doesn’t look like failure on the outside.
You’re talented. Capable. Full of ideas. But somehow… not moving. Perfectionism and procrastination might be running the show.
You tell yourself you’re just waiting until it’s ready. Until it’s polished. Until you have the right photo, or you’ve rewritten the About Me page again, or your CV looks a little less embarrassing. But quietly, underneath it all, you know the truth:
If it’s not perfect, you won’t send it — and then nothing happens.
In this blog, we’re going to talk about how to put yourself out there, how perfectionism stalls progress, why courage doesn’t always feel good (it takes courage to act), and what happens when you hit ‘send’ before you feel ready. With personal development for women and Life Coaching Brighton, you’ll learn how to interrupt the thought loops that keep you stuck, create momentum from where you are, and advocate for yourself in a way that actually feels good.
This is especially for you if you live or work in a creative, purpose-driven space like Brighton — where the energy is vibrant, but imposter syndrome is just as real.
The Hidden Link Between Perfectionism and Procrastination
One of my clients, Claire, said this to me recently:
“If it’s not perfect, I don’t send it. And then… I don’t send anything.”
She wasn’t lazy. Far from it. She was spending hours fiddling, editing, doubting. But there was always one more thing to tweak. One more reason not to put it out there.
Her press pack. Her DJ bio. Her SoundCloud mixes.
Each one was held hostage by the belief that it wasn’t quite good enough.
You might not be a DJ, but maybe you’ve got your own version of this.
Maybe it’s a job application you haven’t submitted.
Or the message you haven’t sent.
Or the coaching business idea that’s still sitting in a notebook somewhere.
You’re not avoiding the task — you’re avoiding the discomfort that comes with it. Which brings me to this next bit.
Courage Doesn’t Always Feel Good — And That’s Normal
Let me take you to a car park in Tottenham.
Claire had signed up for an event — something outside her comfort zone. The kind of thing that sounded exciting in theory, but when she pulled up in the car, alone, in an unfamiliar industrial estate, her brain went:
“What the hell am I doing?”
Totally normal. That’s what it feels like right before we do something brave.
She walked in anyway. And had one of the most powerful, embodied, meditative experiences of her life. But the reason she had that experience wasn’t because she felt confident. It’s because she felt nervous — and showed up anyway.
That’s courage. And most of the time, it feels awful. Until it doesn’t.
The Thought Loops That Keep You Stuck
Here’s the loop:
“It’s not good enough → I don’t feel ready → I’ll wait → Nothing happens → I feel even less ready → Repeat.”
You buffer. Distract. Make coffee. Scroll. Clean the flat. Reorganise the bookshelf.
Tell yourself you’re being productive. But really, you’re just avoiding the tension.
In coaching, we call that buffering — using any activity to avoid feeling something uncomfortable (like fear, rejection, or uncertainty). But here’s the kicker: avoiding discomfort is still uncomfortable. You just don’t get anything to show for it.
So What Happens When You Hit Send Anyway?
Claire’s moment of truth came when she realised the problem wasn’t the press pack. It wasn’t the bio. It wasn’t the layout or the photos.
It was the belief:
“I can’t put it together professionally.”
Which, translated, meant: “I can’t make it perfect.”
But what if it doesn’t need to be? What if “done” is enough? What if your bio is the best bio in the history of bios because you say it is?
She wrote a belief plan. Practiced thinking “Someone amazing is going to say yes.” She scheduled a time to send the mix. And she did it. Imperfectly. Powerfully.
And when the doubt came (because it always does), she walked around the house like a badass, reminding herself:
“That was brave.”
“That was me, showing up.”
“That’s what it looks like to live on purpose.”
A Simple Exercise to Stop Waiting for Perfect
You don’t need to wait until your website is finished or your CV sounds clever or your Instagram grid is colour-coordinated. That’s not what makes you credible. That’s not what builds confidence.
Here’s a little exercise:
Pick one thing you’ve been putting off.
The thing you “need to finish” before you can start.Write a belief plan for after you send it.
It can be three sentences. Something like:
“This is good enough for now. Someone out there will love it. I’m proud of myself for doing the thing.”Schedule a time.
Not when you feel ready. Just… Tuesday at 10am. Or Sunday at 3. Whatever. Make it non-negotiable.Do it. Imperfectly. Before your brain talks you out of it.
Let This Be the Start of Your Next Chapter
Hopefully, this blog has helped you spot the real problem behind your procrastination — perfectionism. You’ve learned that courage doesn’t show up looking like confidence. That discomfort is part of the creative process. That taking action before you feel ready is the path to momentum. And that the belief you choose to hold about your work matters more than anything you write on the page.
You don’t need to feel totally ready. You just need to go. And Brighton needs more women who go first.
You don’t need more time. You don’t need more confidence. You need one brave move.
If perfectionism has been slowing you down, let’s interrupt the pattern — together.
Book a free Discovery Call and let’s talk about where you’re stuck, what you want next, and how we’ll get you there — with clarity, courage, and support every step of the way.
👉 Click here to book your Discovery Call now
Because your next chapter doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to begin.
This blog is inspired by the work I do with my clients during sessions, and brought to you in partnership with AI.
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