“Wow, that’s perfect.” “You did it so perfectly.” “This tastes perfect.” We hear these words all the time. Maybe you’ve even been called perfect yourself. I know I have. At first, it felt flattering. But over time, I realized it was backfiring on me. I began carrying this idea of perfection inside my head. Every time I didn’t meet my own sky-high expectations, I felt low. The bar kept rising, not motivating me but trapping me. Instead of doing more, I ended up doing nothing. I wasn’t living; I was just existing. The expectations we set for ourselves, and the ones others put on us, can quietly take a toll on our minds. You may not notice it immediately, but it chips away at your confidence. By the time you realize it, part of the damage is already done. So, this is for anyone who’s ever felt crushed by the weight of perfection. If you ask about me today, I no longer pressure myself to be “perfect.” I just show up, do my best with the knowledge and energy I have, and let that be enough....