How Perfectionism Kept Me from Sharing My Second Book—and What I Learned About Letting Go.

There’s a moment many creatives don’t talk about: the moment after we finish a big project—but before we let the world see it. That quiet, uncertain space between creation and exposure, where fear sneaks in and perfectionism starts whispering, “It’s not good enough.”

I know that space all too well.

I wrote a book—my second one, in fact—called Unblock My Creative Flow. It was born from my own struggles with writer’s block, a guide to help others who find themselves stuck, paralyzed by self-doubt, or disconnected from their creativity. I poured my heart, my experience, and my knowledge into its pages. And when I finished it, I didn’t feel proud. I felt panic.

The voice in my head said, “This isn’t perfect.”

“It’s not polished enough.”

“You’ve grown so much since you wrote it. What if people judge you for what you didn’t know then?”

So I did what many perfectionists do.

I hid it.

I didn’t tell my coworkers. I didn’t tell my friends or my family. I didn’t post about it, talk about it, or share it with the people who would have benefited from it. It sat in silence while I waited for it to somehow magically become better, more worthy, more “perfect.”

Here’s the hard truth I learned: perfectionism is just a dressed-up form of fear.

Fear of being seen.

Fear of being judged.

Fear of not being “good enough.”

It convinces us that we’re just being thorough or careful, but really, it’s just delaying the very thing we’re meant to do: share our work, our voice, our message.

Months went by, and I kept growing. I read more books. I had more life experiences. I gained new insights and clarity about the creative process. With that growth came a new perspective—and when I looked back at Unblock My Creative Flow, I saw all the things I would now do differently. I saw the gaps, the parts I would expand, the ways I would reword a few sections or add new tools.

But I also saw something else: the value that was already there.

That book, even with its imperfections, had real, tangible guidance for people who felt creatively stuck. It had empathy. It had energy. It had tools that had helped me, and I knew they could help others. The message was still meaningful. The advice was still sound. The voice—my voice—was still powerful.

That’s when it clicked: I was judging my past work through the lens of my present growth, and that’s not fair.

We’re always evolving. We’re always learning. If I waited to feel “perfectly ready,” I would never share anything at all—because I’ll always know more tomorrow than I do today.

And yet, what I know today still has value.

I realized I didn’t need to rewrite the entire book. I didn’t need to keep it hidden until I reached some imaginary standard of perfection. Instead, I could share it as it is—and later, when the time is right, I could release a second edition. One that reflects the knowledge I’ve gained since writing the first.

Because books, like people, can grow.

That shift in mindset changed everything. I no longer saw the book as “unfinished” or “not good enough.” I saw it as a snapshot of who I was at that moment—a person who had something powerful to say, and who said it with the tools and understanding they had at the time. That version of me deserves to be heard too.

And more importantly, there are people right now who are struggling with the very problem I addressed in that book. They don’t need a “perfect” guide. They need something real. Something authentic. Something that speaks to where they are in their creative journey.

I had that. I have that.

Perfectionism almost robbed me—and them—of that gift.

So I made a new decision. I decided to share Unblock My Creative Flow with the world. Not because it’s flawless, but because it’s honest. Because it helps. Because it matters.

And in doing so, I discovered this truth I want to share with you:

Perfectionism is an illusion. It does not exist.

There will always be something more you could tweak. Some sentence you could word differently. Some new research you could add. But waiting until everything is perfect only guarantees one thing: delay.

Perfectionism is not about excellence. It’s about avoidance. It masks itself as high standards, but it’s really a shield we use to protect ourselves from vulnerability.

The only way to combat perfectionism is by adopting a new perspective:

“This is good enough because I gave it my best.”

When I look at Unblock My Creative Flow, I see all the effort I put into it. I see the hours of writing, reflecting, editing, and refining. I see the tools I used, the experiences I shared, and the heart I poured into every chapter. That was my best at the time—and that’s enough.

Because “good enough” doesn’t mean careless. It doesn’t mean rushed.

It means complete. It means ready. It means real.

And real is what people need.

So to anyone out there sitting on a project, an idea, a piece of work you’ve created—but haven’t shared because it’s not “perfect”—let me be your reminder:

You are enough.

Your work is enough.

And someone out there is waiting for it.

Don’t let perfectionism delay your purpose. Don’t silence your voice waiting for it to sound like someone else’s. Don’t wait until you feel “smarter,” “more polished,” or “more ready.”

Share it now.

You can always refine it later.

You’re growing. And that growth is beautiful. But don’t let it convince you that your past self had nothing worthy to say. Every version of you has value. Every message you carry has the potential to change a life.

Including your own.

Are you currently struggling with perfectionism? If yes, will you let perfectionism win?