Kicking “perfect” to the curb!
Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? Does everything need to be exactly right before you make a decision or move forward? Do you research, over-analyze, and talk an idea to death before doing it? I get you girlfriend, I’m a recovering perfectionist myself!
On the surface, it seems like the “right” thing to do. What’s wrong with doing some research, comparing ideas, considering pros and cons before jumping in the water? That’s the SMART thing to do, right?
WELL – that depends! Does this desire to do things perfectly paralyze you with fear? Does it show up in procrastination? Ever called yourself LAZY because you just didn’t “feel” like doing what you needed to do to start that project or reach that goal???
Guess what – you are not lazy – you are scared! Scared of screwing up, scared of looking like you don’t have it all together, scared of criticism! And believe me, I understand – for much of my life, I played life small because I was scared to death of failing and what I made that mean (that I’m a loser, flawed, and should just quit trying). But I also realized there was a part of me that was afraid of succeeding – what would THAT look like? What would that require of me? What would people think of me?
UGH!! Let me tell you – those thoughts just weighed me down (more so than ANY physical weight I ever carried). At some point I had to evaluate what I really wanted to do with this one and only life I have and decide that it was perfectly fine to give these goals of mine a true shot.
It started with my weight loss journey – emotional eating and being overweight had been my “issue” for most of my life – I had to be willing to stumble, fall, fail. Then I had to have the courage to get back up and do something different.
Along the way I’ve learned so much about what’s important to me – it matters more to me to make an effort, then to get it perfectly right or not do anything at all. It no longer matters to me what someone else’s opinion is of what I choose to do to be healthy. My journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s – it’s mine – with all the hills and valleys.
It’s a process folks – I’m not going to pretend that all of this happened overnight for me. I had to be willing to take action, evaluate, and then make changes and move on.
I had to stop the constant chatter in my head that questioned if this was the right choice, what if I screw up, why even bother (oh the chatter!) – I had to face my fears and do it anyways.
I had to be willing to suck at it until I figured it out.
I had to change my goal from wanting to do it “perfectly” to wanting the experience (whatever it my look like) to allow me to grow and learn.
I had to kick “perfect” to the curb.
Who wants to join me? What’s one thing you’ve been avoiding doing because you were afraid it wouldn’t be perfect? Kick perfect to the curb and just do it!
