--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perfectionism hampers success. In fact…" description: "\"“Perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life-paralysis.”\" — Brené Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/bren-brown-280_addiction_perfectionism-hampers-success-in-fact-it_569736.jpg" --- # Perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the… ![“Perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life-paralysis.” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/bren-brown-280_addiction_perfectionism-hampers-success-in-fact-it_569736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/bren-brown-280_addiction_perfectionism-hampers-success-in-fact-it_569736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/bren-brown-280_addiction_perfectionism-hampers-success-in-fact-it_569736.jpg) > ““Perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life-paralysis.”” [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism often leads to mental health struggles and prevents progress, turning ambition into paralysis. **In simple terms:** Perfectionism can cause depression, anxiety, and stagnation. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection to move forward. Themes mental health perfectionism productivity Mood cautious hopeful Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - creative work - career advancement - personal goals Key Concepts self‑criticism anxiety addiction life‑paralysis Questions to Reflect On - How does perfectionism affect your life? - What steps can reduce its grip? A Different Perspective The statement may not account for healthy standards of excellence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfectionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionism/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“Perfectionism is correlated with depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis or missed opportunities. The fear of failing, making mistakes, not meeting people’s expectations, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-correlated-with-depression-anxiety-addiction-and/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/understanding-the-difference-between-healthy-striving-and/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Healthy striving is self-focused: How can I improve? Perfectionism is other-focused: What will they think? Perfectionism is a hustle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/healthy-striving-is-self-focused-how-can-i-improve-perfectionism-is-2/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Life-paralysis refers to all of the opportunities we miss because we’re too afraid to put anything out in the world that could be imperfect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/life-paralysis-refers-to-all-of-the-opportunities-we-miss-because-we/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is self destructive simply because there's no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-s-no-such/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-a-self-destructive-and-addictive-belief-system-that/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it's the thing that's really preventing us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-a-twenty-ton-shield-that-we-lug-around-thinking-it/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Perfectionism is not the same thing has striving to be your best. Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-not-the-same-thing-has-striving-to-be-your-best/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I also see courage in myself when I'm willing to risk being vulnerable and disappointed. For many years, if I really wanted something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-also-see-courage-in-myself-when-i-m-willing-to-risk-being/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Healthy striving is self-focused: "How can I improve", Perfectionism is other-focused:"What will they think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/healthy-striving-is-self-focused-how-can-i-improve-perfectionism-is/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“As a recovering perfectionist and an aspiring good-enoughist, I’ve found it extremely helpful to bust some of the myths about perfectionism so that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/as-a-recovering-perfectionist-and-an-aspiring-good-enoughist-i-ve/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/let-go-of-who-you-think-you-re-supposed-to-be-and-embrace-who-you-are/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Many people think of perfectionism as striving to be your best, but it is not about self-improvement; it's about earning approval and acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/many-people-think-of-perfectionism-as-striving-to-be-your-best-but-it/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Everything that these folks are saying that they're trying to move away from, like comparison, perfectionism, judgement, and exhaustion as a status symbol -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/everything-that-these-folks-are-saying-that-they-re-trying-to-move/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More by Brené Brown > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. 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