"The only way to enhance our power is to let go of trying to control the outcome."

A while back, I was setting up for a workshop I’d been preparing for weeks. I had the slides just right, the colors coordinated, even the images carefully chosen to match my talking points.

Ten minutes before we were supposed to start, the projector stopped working. No amount of button-pushing, unplugging, or silent pleading could revive it. My perfect visual plan? Gone.

I had two choices: cancel or keep going. So I grabbed a marker, drew a quick outline on the whiteboard, and we dove in. Without the slides, people leaned in more. They asked better questions. We ended up laughing, sharing, and connecting in ways that no polished presentation could have created.

That day reminded me of something Ayurveda teaches often: life works best when we lean into balance, not perfection.

In hindsight, I could see it was my ego driving the need for a “perfect” presentation. The ego loves to polish, control, and protect an image — yet Ayurveda reminds us that when the ego takes the lead, imbalance soon follows.

As David Hawkins writes in Letting Go, “The only way to enhance our power is to let go of trying to control the outcome.”

The Perfection Trap—and how Ayurveda says we can finally let go.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, perfectionism isn’t just a personality trait. It’s a symptom — a sign that one or more of our doshas are out of balance. And when those imbalances take over, they ripple through our body and mind.

Life isn’t meant to be polished into a still frame — it’s meant to be lived in motion, with a few rough edges that make it real.

How Perfection Shows Up in Each Dosha

• Vata out of balance: The “overthinker.” A million ideas, endless revisions, and anxious indecision.
• Pitta out of balance: The “relentless critic.” High standards, impatience, and frustration with your own or others’ flaws.
• Kapha out of balance: The “avoider.” Procrastination disguised as “preparing” and reluctance to act for fear of failing.

Ayurvedic Ways to Loosen Perfection’s Grip

• If your Vata is in overdrive: Ground yourself — warm oil massage, gentle yoga, journaling to calm the mind.
• If your Pitta is flaring: Cool the fire — moon salutations, calming breathwork like sheetali, time in nature.
• If your Kapha is stuck: Move the energy — invigorating walks, upbeat music, morning sunlight.

And for everyone: try the mantra “Done is divine.” Progress matters more than perfection.

This week, notice one moment where you’d normally “perfect” something. Instead, let it be “good enough.” Watch how your body softens and your breath eases when you do.

Ayurveda reminds us that balance, not flawlessness, is the goal. You might just find that done feels a whole lot lighter than perfect.