Perfection Is Exhausting and You’re Allowed to Lay It Down

Rachelle Alexandre
Aug 24
2 min read

It starts quietly. You’re doing your best. Moving through your day. Handling what needs to be handled. And then you look to the left. They're doing more....doing it better...doing it with ease. And suddenly, your peace starts to unravel.

Now you’re questioning everything: Should I be pushing harder? Am I falling behind? What if they think I’m lazy or average or not enough?

So you tighten up. Straighten your back and try to outrun the feeling of not measuring up even when you’re already running on empty.

The Pressure to Perform

We live in a world where women are quietly competing in invisible races we never signed up for:

The “who has it all together” race.
The “who can stay calm while doing everything” race.
The “who can juggle without showing the strain” race.

It’s not just happening online it happens in the group chat, in the office, at the brunch table, at the gym. And no matter how much we’re doing, it never feels like enough when you’re stuck in the loop of perfection.

When Comparison Becomes Your Compass

Comparison doesn’t always scream. Sometimes it whispers and tells you:

“You’re behind.”
“She’s doing it better and they can see it”
“You can’t let him outshine you.”

Suddenly, it’s not about your goals anymore, it’s about not being the one who’s falling short. And here’s what happens when perfection takes the wheel:

You stop doing things for joy; you do them to prove something.
You say “yes” when your soul is begging you to rest.
You smile when you want to cry, show up when you want to stop, and perform when you desperately want to just be.

It’s exhausting. And it’s unsustainable.

You Don’t Have to Win to Be Worthy

Here’s what no one says enough:

You are allowed to be tired. You are allowed to go at your own pace. You are allowed to choose peace over pressure.

Let her shine. Let him do his thing. You’re not falling behind, you’re just on your path.

And what’s meant for you will never require you to destroy yourself to have it.

You Don’t Need to Be Perfect, Just Be Present

Perfection is a moving target. It’s rooted in fear, not fulfillment. And it’s robbing too many powerful women of their peace, their joy, and their rest.

So here’s your permission:

Let go of the fake finish line.
Unfollow the pressure.
Choose you! Not the version of you who needs to impress anyone!!

The world doesn’t need a perfect version of you. It needs a whole one. A grounded one. An honest one. One who knows that strength doesn’t mean outshining, it means showing up with softness and self-trust.