Progress Over Perfection

Welcome June and the abundance of freshness it brings! Flowers are blossoming – oh, the roses and peonies! Birds are singing – what are they doing at 3:30am though?! The smells of fresh mown grass and BBQ fill the air. I find myself sitting on the patio under a canopy of trees in the evening as the weather warms, listening to the sounds of village life around me (and the birds!), resting with my thoughts. A contentedness fills my soul. Why? Because I’ve learned something very important recently: perfectionism is altogether draining and something I no longer desire to strive for.  Doing what I can and doing it with a positive attitude and to the best of my ability is sufficient. And so it is for you also!

I love the phrase “strive for progress, not perfection”.  Of course, we want to produce great work results, present the best version of ourselves, be on top of our life game every day. I’ve found the best way to get to where we desire to be is to keep putting one foot in front of the other and practice with intent to grow and learn. Through these efforts we propel ourselves toward an ideal while being rooted in progress over perfection. This is so important in our world today where the illusions of a perfect body, perfect home, perfect career, perfect relationship, perfect this or that permeate media and creep into our minds as how we should be. This illusion is flawed and a harmful perception that sets each of us up for disappointment and turmoil. If you’re not satisfied with an aspect of your life, then you can meet yourself right where you are today and strive for progress toward whatever it is you’re reaching for.  I guarantee you’ll be more satisfied with your journey, and likely have more favorable outcomes, if you ditch the shackles of perfectionism and instead strive for progress.

A quote by the author Edward Everett Hale inspired me during the month of May while I was juggling many time-consuming things and it seems relevant for our theme this month: “I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”

May you burn the notion of perfectionism and rise from those ashes with a contentment knowing you are doing what you can and that is sufficient and enough.