Perfectionism Is Just Theory Crafting

Perfectionism Is Just Theory Crafting

From Geek Psychology: Play Life Better by Matt Sherman

June 1, 2026 · 6 min

About this episode

This episode discusses how perfectionism often stems from theory crafting rather than high standards, emphasizing the importance of taking action over excessive planning.

Most people think perfectionism comes from high standards. But a lot of the time, it’s not high standards. It’s theory crafting. You’re stuck in the menus, running simulations, adjusting the build, trying to make the perfect plan before you take the first step. It feels productive, but it doesn’t create real-world results. In this video, I talk about why over-planning can become a form of avoidance, how theory crafting creates emotional debuffs, and why real GAMEPLAY gives you better feedback than another round of thinking. You’ll learn why the clock doesn’t pause while you plan, why “Falsely Assuming Progress” feels so convincing, and how to start getting XP through action instead of waiting until everything feels perfect. Chapters: 00:00 Perfectionism isn’t always high standards 00:32 Theory crafting vs real action 01:04 The hidden cost of planning 01:43 The clock doesn’t stop 02:23 GAMEPLAY gives better feedback 03:13 Falsely Assuming Progress 04:20 Fear of failure and Mind Wizardry 05:15 Why your aligned action matters Where are you theory crafting right now instead of getting XP? Drop it in the comments. Subscribe for more personality type, self-development, and RPG-inspired…

People in this episode

Host: Matt Sherman

Topics covered

  • perfectionism
  • theory crafting
  • action vs planning
  • emotional debuffs
  • feedback
  • self-improvement

Keywords

  • perfectionism
  • theory crafting
  • planning
  • action
  • self-improvement
  • feedback
  • emotional debuffs

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