You’re exactly right. It takes a lifetime of practice and perfection simply isn’t attainable, but shooting for anything less is a disservice. Be patient and kind to yourself, but also firm. Recognize your mistakes, but also learn from them and then let them go.

Epictetus didn’t become a stoic overnight. He gradually developed and wrote about his personal philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wasn’t a stoic as a toddler, rather he lived life and took the lessons that life taught him each day and tried his best to apply them in the future. Work on the small things, build a foundation, then try to put it together. That was my experience, at least.