There is no better way to conclude this blog series than to emphasize the importance of recognizing your progress. I don’t write this as a person who has arrived to master this, but as a person who is being more intentional about it. Why? Because striving for perfection took all the joy and excitement out of life for me. Instead of being grateful for the progress I was making, I found a way to negatively criticize it before someone else would.
If you’ve been keeping up with my blogs, you know that I touched on this before in the “I am Taking my Life Back” series. (Be sure to check those out if you haven’t) In Part I: Breaking Perfectionism, I talked about discovering the root of perfectionism in my childhood. As I transitioned into adulthood, questions like “What would people say if I mess up” and “How will I make it to the end-goal if I didn’t get it right the first time” weighed heavy on me. It was the Perfectionist trait of Impostor Syndrome, which is this internal fear of inadequacy of being found out to be a fraud. So, you hide behind the perfection which hides how you really feel about yourself. (I’ll talk more about this in an upcoming blog)
As God has allowed me to evolve in this season, I realized that perfection can create limiting beliefs that can cause heightened levels of anxiety. Marcia McCay said it like this, “Striving for excellence feels wonderful because you’re trying your very best. Perfectionism feels terrible because your work is somehow never quite good enough.” You see, there is always something to improve upon in our lives, which is why progression is important; it allows us to develop a feasible, goal-driven mindset that helps us to appreciate every facet of the journey. It’s embracing life through a whole and new perspective.
Here are some examples:
Perfection: If it’s not perfect, I will feel like a failure.
Progression: If it’s not perfect, I will celebrate what did go well and rework the parts that need improvement.
Perfection: Everybody expects me to have all the answers.
Progression: I will be honest about what I know and don’t know. It is unrealistic for me to know everything.
Perfection: Nothing matters until I get this BIG win.
Progression: Everything that I’ve done up until this point is preparing me for the BIG win.
Perfection: Because of my age, race, and gender, I can’t make a mistake, or they will talk about me.
Progression: I’m doing the best I can. I will not allow my age, race, or gender to be used to put unnecessary pressure on me.
Perfection: I just don’t feel like I’m doing enough with my life.
Progression: I will not compare my life to others. With what is currently taking place in my life and the time I have to spare, I will do what I can with what I have.
***These are just a few examples, but I encourage you to develop your own that are applicable to your life. Let them serve as reminders for you that you can always refer to. ***
I felt God leading me to conclude with this because many of us face pressure in various areas of our lives. Change is inevitable and time doesn’t stop to give us a break. It is human of us to want to get things right and make the best decisions. It is also human of us to experience the emotions that comes along with the ups and downs of responsibility. We don’t forget our humanness, we embrace it. As God evolves us, let’s be more patient with ourselves and in-tuned with God and the greatness He has placed within us.
I pray that this series has blessed you. It blesses and strengthens me to know that we can all help each from our own personal journeys. Make sure you stay connected with me and let me know how you’re doing. Until the next post, be blessed!
-Jasmine