Perfectionism is poison. It kills your work, your creativity, and your art. It’s that moment when you abandon your truth and instinct in search of something better, more acceptable for others. It creeps in when you second-guess what feels expansive and authentic to you and instead chase the illusion that there’s a version of yourself that’s more “right.”
Whether you’re an actor, a singer, or a dancer, perfectionism shows up when you doubt the raw, unique energy you bring to your performance. Instead of embracing your truth, you focus on pleasing an audience, a casting director, or the vague idea of “better.” You trade your authenticity for an unattainable version of yourself, believing it will protect you from failure, mistakes, or rejection. But in doing so, you abandon the very thing that makes your art alive: YOU.
When you watch my training below you will discover that here’s the hard truth—perfection doesn’t exist. It’s a delusion, a made-up standard imposed by society to keep you chasing something unattainable. And this chase drains you. Every time you reach for it, you step further away from the authenticity that fuels your creativity. When you perform from a place of perfectionism, you wear a mask. The audience doesn’t connect with a mask. They connect with you—raw, real, beautifully and deeply human.
Art isn’t about avoiding failure or pleasing everyone. It’s about embodying your humanity—the light and dark, the fear and freedom, the perfect mess that makes you YOU. True creation happens when you let go of trying to be something you’re not and instead express what is already within you.
So, if you’ve been stuck in the perfectionism loop—taking more classes, reading more books, and looking for some magical “secret” that will make you flawless—pause. You are not flawed. You were born perfect. You’ll die perfect. Perfection isn’t about being without mistakes. It’s about embracing your humanity. You are perfectly human—beautifully expansive and contracting, super present and terrified, all at once. That’s what makes you unique.
The work, then, is to unlearn the conditioning that told you otherwise. To undo the belief that there’s a “better” version of you out there and reclaim what was always yours: YOU.
Watch my training to hear all my thoughts on this topic.
After you watch the training, I'd love for you to join in the conversation happening in our private Facebook Group THE INSTINCTIVE ACTORS' SOCIETY. You can get answers for your specific situation directly from me and connect with THOUSANDS of like-minded actors across the globe, so we can move things forward faster together.
If you're not already a member, be sure to request to join ASAP here.
See you there!
Jo Kelly
Creator, The Reset Journey From Resistance to Freedom
P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are three ways I can help you:
Get your FREE training on how to STOP TRYING TO BE A GOOD ACTOR SO YOU HAVE A CHANCE AT BEING GREAT
THE ACTORS REHAB
A 3 Day Detox with Jo Kelly. Stop feeling like shit, fall in love with acting again & know that you ARE going to make it.
Get on the waitlist for my training, The Reset Journey From Resistance to Freedom, and stop struggling to access your natural, authentic talent in the audition room or on set. You'll learn how to reset your instrument to be 100% instinctive and free in just 33 days.
Comments