Category Archives: perfection

Notice the pressure of perfect

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Notice the pressure of perfect.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Christian Erfurt

Today’s quote is for you, even if you are not a perfectionist.

Although many of us like order in our lives, most of us realize that life is messy and perfection isn’t possible.

For those of us who know or perhaps live with a perfectionist, we can see the pressure this trait puts on them — and us — through our proximity.

Far too often we fall short of our expectations and the angst of not being good enough sends many of us to dark places.

Getting 1600 on your SATs and having the stress of living a 4.0 life isn’t likely to produce a happy, meaningful life.

EXERCISE:

Where in your world is the pressure to be perfect not working for you or others?

In what current situations is good enough good enough?

You Don’t have to get it perfect

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“You don’t have to get it perfect, you just have to get it going.”

—Jack Canfield, Co-Author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series

Image from sarasdesk

Doing things perfectly rarely happens on the first attempt and yet many of us seek this elusive level of achievement throughout our days.

Many who are fully aware that achieving this level of excellence is virtually unattainable procrastinate or fail to even make the attempt.

I once heard someone ask the question, “How do you write a good book?” His answer was to write a bad book and keep on working on it until it becomes good.

EXERCISE:

Where might you get going on some important project and use an aim, shoot, adjust your aim and shoot again strategy to achieve your professional and personal goals?

The Perfect Moment

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“Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.”

—Author Unknown

meme about the perfect moment

Image from blogs.reading.ac.uk

In the past few months, I’ve read several blog posts on the topic of perfection and excellence, all focused on the debate between quantity and quality.

The real question is, how are you wired?

Do you go for perfection through extensive planning, strategizing, thinking, and rethinking?

Or do you jump in and get started making something that can be tweaked along the way?

Given many people’s desire to do it right the first time, some of us wait for the “perfect moment” to begin. Beginning, and the idea of doing many experiments from which we can learn seems to be the way things are headed. Albert Einstein said, “ How do I work? I grope.”

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you stop waiting for the “perfect” moment, and instead make more moments perfect?

The Grand Lie

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“Perfection is the grand lie.”

-Brendon Burchard, American Motivational Author

Image from Flickr by ewitch

Image from Flickr by ewitch

Virtually everyone I meet who is exploring a coaching relationship wants to change their lives for the better.

Many experience a fair amount of upsets in their worlds, due to unfulfilled expectations of themselves, and others.

The “Grand Lie” of perfectionism is often a significant culprit for feelings of inadequacy and unhappiness.

An alternate approach – which I have found effective and freeing – is to replace perfectionism with the pursuit of progress, so that when the day is done, what you get done is what you get done.

EXERCISE:

Where is the Grand Lie of Perfectionism preventing you from the fulfilling and satisfying life you desire? Where would the pursuit of excellence and ongoing progress serve you far better?

perfection

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“You don’t need to create a masterpiece every day. You need to get some oil on the canvas every day.”

—Brendon Burchard, American Motivational Author

image of art paper with three color bars

Image from craftsy.com

Do you have young children? Are you a grandparent? Do you have little ones as part of your world on a daily basis? If so, consider their artistic efforts with crayons, markers, and paints. Recall a time when their masterpieces took a prominent spot on your walls or refrigerator. Their efforts were cherished and celebrated for whatever images made it on those canvases.

Unfortunately, as adults we often become judge and jury for our own efforts and those of others, making excellence or perfection the only worthy goal.

EXERCISE:

Where and in what ways can you more fully appreciate and recognize your efforts, and those of others, to get some oil on the canvas every day?

Be what you are

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“Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.”

– St Francis de Sales, Roman Catholic Saint

Envy and jealousy rob us of our power. When we focus on the qualities and characteristics of others, we often pine for what we feel may be missing or lacking in ourselves. Personal appearance, physical abilities, and intellectual capacities are just a few examples.

Instead of wishing to be someone else, what if we fan the flames of our own passions and unique abilities to become our best self?

Exercise:

What if it were all about the journey within – a perfect-fitting life which was intended all along?

What would be possible if you were perfectly yourself?