Letting Go of Perfectionism

I recently concluded I’m just old school when it comes to white out. The brush and paint are just fine for me. The new and improved tape doesn’t work for me. I went through 5 of those plastic things trying to figure out the technique to push over my mistakes. After some time including a FaceTime tutorial with a friend I finally said, I don’t do this well but I’m great at other things.

Nobody is great at everything and perfectionism is sometimes only a thought because is there anything or anyone perfect? Attempting to do things that we are not masters at is part of the experience.

As I was reading my current self-improvement book the following resonated with me.

We always have to do our best. I hear this almost every single day, from motivational speakers to athletes: “I have to do my best.” I’d like to challenge that. You don’t have to be perpetually performing and doing things at the top level. As a matter of fact, the idea that things always have to be done perfectly is very often what will keep you from achieving anything at all.

If you’re preoccupied with perfectionism, it will turn into paralysis in the end, because you won’t be able to accomplish anything. Get rid of that whole idea of best and just do. I suggest that you replace the idea that you always have to do your best at everything with this: There’s going to be a few things that I do very well—it may even be my best. But when it comes to the rest of the things I do in my life, I’m not going to worry about my best and instead simply enjoy them. Remember to take that pressure off of your children as well, because it’s far more important for them to do and enjoy and be at peace and in harmony than it is to live with all of the illness-producing stress that comes from constantly being told that you always have to do your best.