I’ll probably always strive for perfection, but my desire to continually obtain it is slowly fading away. A turning point was when I realized how perfectionism was impacting my life. I had a tough time describing what was happening and why I would avoid things. Once I could name it and understand what it was doing to me, I could own it and work to push past it. Catch up by reading, “The Paralyzing Power of Perfection.”
If I hadn’t pushed past perfection I would still be waiting to launch my blog because I would be trying to write the perfect post. I’m so glad I didn’t let that stop me and I want that same opportunity for you! So today, I want to share five tactical + practical ways I’ve found useful to push past perfection. What others would you add?
5 Ways to Push Past Perfection
- Avoid Comparisons
- When we start to compare ourselves to others – our point in life, homes, confidence, kids, health, money, etc. – it’s typical to think what they have is better/perfect and all of a sudden, ours is no longer good enough. Remember this, waiting is something everyone experiences and you never know what season or struggle someone else is going through. I know this can be difficult to do, but try focusing on what you do have to avoid comparing.
- What Are You Willing to Lose
- What are you willing to risk losing by allowing perfection to rule your life? Think of the opportunities, passions or relationships you are willing to forgo because you are waiting for things to be perfect. That was motivation enough for me to think twice before allowing perfection to paralyze me from taking action.
- Check Your Expectations
- My expectation was to be married at 25 with two kids before the age of 30. In real life, I got married at 29 and I’m currently still waiting for baby #1 at the age of 33. What I expected my life to look like and what it currently does are not the same. It’s difficult to do, but I have to accept where I am in life. I can’t go back and change how things happened, but I can change my expectations and attitude about it going forward. Maybe the life I’m currently living is playing out perfectly and I’m exactly where I need to be. Did you ever think of it that way?
- Change Your Perspective
- Who decides what’s perfect anyway? You do. You have the power to decide which means you can change your mind set about it. For me, perfection was necessary to avoid disappointment in myself and others. I was too afraid to make a mistake for fear of not being perfect, so I didn’t do it! But what if I viewed it as an opportunity to learn and grow, to better myself instead of seeing mistakes negatively.
- Practice, Practice, Practice
- The more times you choose action over perfection, the easier it becomes. I’m not suggesting you go in unprepared. What I want you to do is just try and see how you feel afterwards.
If any of this resonates with you, let’s band together and agree to push past this notion of being perfect. When we focus on being perfect, we are looking at what we are capable of doing; but if we look to God for that definition, immeasurably more can happen. He is the author and perfector of our faith. He makes us perfect, not the other way around. Be who God created you to be, because if He’s satisfied with who you are, there is no other person you could perfectly be.
How do you push past perfection? What tips do you have?
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Please share with someone you know who could use some encouragement in the wait.