For the longest time, I was terrified of doing anything halfway. I had this deep, nagging fear of failure—an unrelenting need to get things right on the first try. Perfectionism had wrapped its hands around my life, and it was doing more harm than good.

The Pressure to Be Perfect

Growing up with South East Asian parents, the pressure to excel was a constant in my childhood. Education, for families like mine, was the golden ticket—the only way to a stable and comfortable life, especially if you’re from a middle-income household. I did well in school, but I was never the best. I was the student who scored 96%, only to be met with the familiar, half-joking question: “What happened to the other 4%?” My parents didn’t mean to be harsh; they wanted me to succeed. But I absorbed that mentality deeply, internalising the idea that anything less than 100% wasn’t good enough.

Perfectionism in Adulthood

This mindset followed me into adulthood, and nowhere was it more apparent than in my struggle to create my portfolio. I’ve been trying to get started on my UX design portfolio for over a year now. In my mind, I needed the perfect layout, the perfect landing page, the perfect case studies—everything had to be flawless. I spent countless hours tweaking designs, obsessing over minor details, and, frankly, losing hair from the stress. And yet, despite all the time and energy spent, I had nothing to show for it. Just a string of unfinished drafts and the sinking feeling of wasted potential.

A Moment of Realisation

Rationally, I knew perfectionism was holding me back. But the realisation hit me hard one evening over dinner with a friend. I was venting about the endless pressure I’d felt growing up and how it still haunted me, even at 31. My friend listened, then said something that stuck with me: “Aim for the moon; at least you’ll hit a star.”

Letting Go of Perfection

Something shifted for me that night. I realised that waiting for perfection was just a way of avoiding the discomfort of vulnerability and potential failure. It wasn’t protecting me—it was paralysing me. In my obsession to get everything right, I was robbing myself of the chance to try, to learn, and to grow. It wasn’t just about the portfolio; it was a metaphor for how I approached everything in life.

Turning Perfectionism into a Strength

But here’s the thing: that very attention to detail, that desire to make things better, also gave me a unique strength. I could spot things that others overlooked. I was constantly thinking about how to elevate a project, how to push for something even more meaningful. Perfectionism had its downsides, but it wasn’t all bad—it gave me an eye for improvement and a relentless drive to do better.

Taking the Plunge

Now, I’m taking the plunge. I’m ready to let go of that paralysing fear. I’m learning to embrace the idea that there’s nothing to lose by trying. If I shoot for the moon and only hit a star, that’s still progress. At 31, I’m choosing to be confident in trying, even if it means failing. Because failure isn’t an end—it’s just another way to learn and grow.

I’d rather fail and learn today than play it safe and never grow, no matter how many years I live. This journey isn’t about getting it perfect the first time. It’s about being brave enough to try, resilient enough to fail, and determined enough to use those failures as stepping stones.

Embracing Imperfection

This is my strength now. I’m embracing the messy, imperfect process. I’m ready to be a work in progress—because that’s the only way to truly move forward.

Final Thoughts & Call to Action

I hope my story encourages you to take your own plunge. What’s one thing you’ve been putting off because you’re afraid it won’t be perfect? Start today—messy, imperfect, but brave.

Aim for the moon. At least you’ll hit a star.