This one is for my fellow perfectionists 💛
✨ I N S P I R E
“And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good"
- John Steinbeck
✨ R E F L E C T
We often think of 'perfectionists' as the typical high strung A type who is completely off the wall and needs everything to be just so or their world will come crashing to a halt
But of course, WE are so not like that.....
But what if we were??
What if perfectionism showed up ALL THE TIME in more subtle ways like:
Writing (and re-writing) the two sentence email to your co-worker
Requiring reassurance, approval and/or validation to feel confident, smart, talented, loved, worthy etc...
Quitting the new hobby you loved because you aren't as good as the person next to you who's been doing it daily for 20 years
Last Supper Mentality - "Today I'll just eat everything in sight and then tomorrow I'll be 'good' "
Obsessively cleaning and organizing
Setting impossibly high standards - "Well, of course I can work 80 hours a week, go to every soccer game, have a thriving social life, and stay fit, healthy, strong, and calm"
Underneath all of these things is that nagging fear that if we don't do it all perfectly (and also somehow effortlessly, but that's a talk for another day...) they will 'find out' about us
And we won't be loved, accepted, valued, cared for, thought about etc...
Our worst fears realized
But...
Just being aware of all the ways perfectionism shows up in your life is HUGE ✨
Start there
Give yourself some grace as you work toward softening the pull of doing it all perfectly
Take small steps where you can
It's about progress, not perfection ✨
✨ T H R I V E
Let go of the perfectionist ideal that is stifling your growth, opportunities, relationships, health, and success
✔️ Can't do the full 30/60 minute workout?
Do something else
Try a 15 minute version or a quick walk around the block
It all adds up
✔️ Ate (way) beyond the feeling of fullness?
Doesn't mean you need to eat everything in sight until Monday when you can get 'back on track"
Have a sip of water, take a few deep breaths, and come back to yourself
You can start listening in anytime - even in the middle of the day 🤯
✔️ Don't have 20 minutes for a phone call to catch up with a friend?
Send a quick text to let her know you're thinking of her and will call later
Or call on the way to the store when you have a few minutes to just say hello
✔️ Your partner doesn't do every single thing perfectly
Here's a tip - no one does
Don't let the little Seinfeld-y quirks weigh too heavy
Look for evidence of all the things your partner DOES do that you love - you'll (both) be much happier
Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good
How could this show up in your life today?
With all the love 💛
Carolyn
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