I don’t know who needs to hear this, but it’s not possible to be perfect and not worth striving for. I mean this for every aspect of life but it definitely applies to veganism. There isn’t a panel of vegans judging every decision you make. If you unknowingly consume an animal product in a restaurant (think hidden chicken broth) you aren’t going to be stripped of your Vegan title. This perfection myth can only hinder your progress.
Sometimes the fear of failure prevents people from trying. What if I cave and eat a slice of pizza? What if I can’t help but try a dairy filled dessert? It’s ok if you slip up. What’s important is that you get right back to your vegan eating and not to go back to your old eating just because you made a mistake.
I once read something that really helped me visualize the ridiculousness of giving up just because you made a mistake. Picture you’re driving and get a flat tire. The solution is to change the tire and get right back to driving. You wouldn’t puncture the 3 other tires just because you have 1 flat tire. This can apply to anything. If you’re trying to stay away from sugar but eat a cookie at a friend's house, don’t spend the rest of the day gorging on sugar. If you’re trying to limit your shopping but buy a pair of shoes you fell in love with, don’t spend the rest of the day on a shopping spree. You haven’t “ruined” anything. It’s just a simple slip up. Fix it and move on.
Please keep this in mind if you eat something non-vegan. You’re not a failure and you don’t need to quit. Just get right back to it and spend the rest of the day following the vegan diet. Don’t beat yourself up - there’s no such thing as perfection!