Overthinking to Overcoming: Confidence for Perfectionists

If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by overthinking, worried about every tiny little detail, or avoided taking action because it might not be “just right,” this episode is for you to go from Overthinking to Overcoming: Confidence for Perfectionists.

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Hello my friend, and welcome back to The Lucy Liu Show, the podcast where we help high-achieving women like you to cultivate unshakable confidence and step into your boldest, most authentic selves.

I’m LL, a confidence life coach and speaker, and today we’re diving into a topic that so many of you have told me you struggle with: perfectionism.

Today, we’ll explore:
Why perfectionism kills confidence
How to shift from overthinking to overcoming
And three powerful strategies to help you take imperfect action with confidence

So, if you’re ready to stop letting perfectionism hold you back and start making bold moves, let’s dive in.

Let me start by saying this: perfectionism is NOT the same as having high standards.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do a good job. But perfectionism is when the fear of failure, judgment, or not being “good enough” stops you in your tracks.

Here’s the kicker: perfectionism pretends to be our friend trying to protect us, perfectionism pretends to be a strength. It makes you feel like “oh you’re being so responsible”.

But in reality, it’s quietly chipping away at your confidence.

Here’s how:

Overthinking leads to self-doubt. When you constantly second-guess yourself, your brain starts to associate action with uncertainty. The result? You lose trust in your own instincts, you lose trust in self belief and you lost trust in your ability to overcome when in reality you have it all within you.
Perfectionism leads to procrastination. You keep delaying actions because you’re waiting for the “perfect” moment. You’re waiting for yet another sign, you’re waiting for external validations. Spoiler alert: it never comes unless you make a decision.
You fear judgment more than you value growth. The more you prioritize avoiding mistakes, the more you avoid opportunities to learn and evolve. We as human beings all make mistakes, it’s a natural part of life, what you learn from each event in life is crucial to your future self so make sure you are making decisions today that your future self will thank you for.

Here’s the truth: Confidence doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from getting it done and consistent repetition. Confidence is built through action, not flawless execution.

So, how do you break free from the perfectionism trap?
Let me introduce you to a mindset shift I call: Progress Over Perfection.

Think about it—confidence grows through doing, not through polishing.

When you embrace imperfect action, you develop competence, which then fuels confidence.

Here’s a real-life example:

When I wrote my book, overthinking too many details I actually wrote nothing for a whole year. Procrastination kicked in, imposter syndrome creeped in. Then when I finally reminded myself to just make progress and set my calendar to write just one chapter a day, about 1000 words a day, the entire book was finished in 21 days. Then from there I was able to quickly improve my draft and complete the book soon after.

The lesson? You can’t improve what you never start.

Alright, let me give you three actionable strategies you can start using today to break free from overthinking and build confidence through action:

1. Set a “Good Enough” Timer
When you catch yourself overanalyzing, set a timer or deadline.
Use that time to make a decision or complete a task. When the time is up, commit to moving forward, even if it’s not perfect.

2. The 70% Rule
Most of the time we tend to wait until we feel 100% ready. The problem is, maybe that day never comes. So instead, commit to taking action when you feel 70% ready Because the remaining 30% is often just fear and self-doubt dressed up as “preparation and planning.”

3. Celebrate Imperfect Wins
Perfectionists tend to only celebrate “perfect” outcomes. Instead, start celebrating the act of showing up. The simple act of getting started or getting it done deserves a celebration.
Post the unpolished video. Send the email that’s 90% right. Every time you take imperfect action, you’re rewiring your brain to associate action with confidence, not fear.

Oh and a bonus tip, add an ex- in front of perfectionist, I declare that I am an ex-overthinker, I am an ex-perfectionist. Pause for a minute and say it outloud right now! I declare that I am an ex-overthinker, I am an ex-perfectionist I am no longer that version of me.

Here’s your takeaway for today: Confidence comes from doing, not perfecting.

The next time you find yourself overthinking, ask:
“What would I do right now if I knew it didn’t have to be perfect?”
Then—go do that thing.

And remember: imperfect action will always move you further than perfect hesitation.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow perfectionist who needs to hear this message. And if you haven’t already, hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode.

Until next time, keep showing up, taking messy action, and owning your confidence.

You’ve got this!