My name is Sarah Aderson and I'm a recovering perfectionist. My addiction to perfection has caused me to have many sleepless nights, anxiety attacks, and severe migraines. It's a side-effect of my Type-A personality. There's no cure, but through dedicated effort I've decreased the severity of my perfectionism. When I relapse, the mantra "done is better than perfect" calms me down. It helps me remember that perfection is an unrealistic goal. I'm human and I'm
Image courtesy of DavidDominici/FreeDigitalPhotos.net going to make mistakes.
I used to run track. Relays were my thing - 400X400. My coach wanted us to get experience in everything. I tried the hurdles during one track meet. I practiced hard and I wanted to execute them perfectly. Well, it didn't go the way I planned at all. On the very first hurdle, I tripped and fell. Without even thinking I got back up and finished. After I jumped that last hurdle, I walked over to my mom and started bawling. I was devastated because my execution wasn't flawless. As tears streamed down my cheeks she said, "The important thing is that you got back up and finished." It was then that I realized, the fall wasn't nearly as important as the fact that I kept going.
Sometimes you just have to try something (and maybe fall on your face) to see what you're really made of. Perfectionism can lead to paralysis. It would have kept me laying on that track field. Done is absolutely better than perfect. Do your best, but leave room for your humanity.
Where in your life are you trying to be perfect? Is your need for perfection paralyzing you?
Image courtesy of DavidDominici/FreeDigitalPhotos.net going to make mistakes.
I used to run track. Relays were my thing - 400X400. My coach wanted us to get experience in everything. I tried the hurdles during one track meet. I practiced hard and I wanted to execute them perfectly. Well, it didn't go the way I planned at all. On the very first hurdle, I tripped and fell. Without even thinking I got back up and finished. After I jumped that last hurdle, I walked over to my mom and started bawling. I was devastated because my execution wasn't flawless. As tears streamed down my cheeks she said, "The important thing is that you got back up and finished." It was then that I realized, the fall wasn't nearly as important as the fact that I kept going.
Sometimes you just have to try something (and maybe fall on your face) to see what you're really made of. Perfectionism can lead to paralysis. It would have kept me laying on that track field. Done is absolutely better than perfect. Do your best, but leave room for your humanity.
Where in your life are you trying to be perfect? Is your need for perfection paralyzing you?
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Sarah Aderson, Leg-a-SHE Strategist and author of the forthcoming book The Single Mom Bliss Blueprint: 7 Steps to Activate the Superpower in Your Heart, empowers single moms to live without limits and create the life they desire. She's also the host and founder of the Mom-In-Chief Lounge...a Free weekly empowerment session for busy single moms.
Learn more about Sarah's work at www.expandyourheart.org
Get Free weekly training from renowned experts at www.mominchieflounge.com
Sarah Aderson, Leg-a-SHE Strategist and author of the forthcoming book The Single Mom Bliss Blueprint: 7 Steps to Activate the Superpower in Your Heart, empowers single moms to live without limits and create the life they desire. She's also the host and founder of the Mom-In-Chief Lounge...a Free weekly empowerment session for busy single moms.
Learn more about Sarah's work at www.expandyourheart.org
Get Free weekly training from renowned experts at www.mominchieflounge.com
