Something I will add which relates to the examples in the post (gym, business, relationships) is that big things happen with lots of small steps over time. You can't do a years worth of workouts on Jan 1 and be fit for the year. These things take daily effort and cycles of work and recovery to happen.
That desire for perfection can also be a desire to be done. To have it finished and get closure. It's hard to accept that some things are going to take a long time or a lifetime.
Reminds me of a quote from Bojack Horseman I think about quite often (in the show it's in reference to running): "It gets easier. Every day it gets a little easier. But you gotta do it every day. That's the hard part".
I have that quote printed out and hanging in my work room. With the running baboon next to it, smiling, looking at his watch and the sun shining behind him. I've never watched that show, but the quote hits home and was welcome during hard times.
I think it should be more like: "Every day you get faster/stronger/better. But every day will be just as hard as your first day, and you gotta do it every day."
It's what I tried to capture in the post, but probably could have put better.
The sense of just taking the steps I can today, rather than burdening myself with the expectation of needing to have worked it all out and achieved all of my comparison-driven life goals.
The key is to find healthy rhythms that help us continue to better ourselves over time.
That desire for perfection can also be a desire to be done. To have it finished and get closure. It's hard to accept that some things are going to take a long time or a lifetime.