Perfection has not served me well.
I find it very easy to obsess over small things, which cause endless delays and procrastination.
For example, we can start with the Dream Board. I don’t usually consider myself an artistically creative person, so this type of assignment can stress me out a little. But I wanted to get it done. So I picked some items from my DMP and Press Release and printed them out, cut them to size, and plopped them on the posterboard.
Oh, wait, do I want to put this next to that? And what about that other item from my DMP that I couldn’t find a good representative photo for? Hmm.
In that moment, I decided it was more valuable for me to have a finished Dream Board to use in practice than it would be to have the perfect representation of each piece. The point is to hit my subby with a new approach.
So I dove in with JOY and made it fun rather than burdensome.
The following week, I was able to apply the same approach to creating my recording. Is it perfect? No. Is it great, yes. Is it doing the job? Yes. Do I listen to it, yes.
And the best part, none of that is permanent. If I want to add a new photo to my dream board or scrap it altogether and start over, I can. It’s my board.
I have this sense of freedom to explore, experiment, and enjoy all the practicing we are doing. And I am choosing daily to enjoy both the process and the experience.
This same mindset is overflowing into the POA card – specifically with regard to the seemingly scarier steps that I am adding each week. I actually look forward to getting them done!
As I leave my desire for perfection behind, I am learning to embrace the exploration of unfamiliar exercises, practices, and strange new things.
Amy — Your willingness to “just dive in” reminded me that done-is-better-than-perfect often leads to real progress. This is a great reminder for me. Thank you.
Amy,
Thank you for the reminder that being in action and getting things done beats perfection anytime. I love your observation that all of this is your creation and the freedom you have to explore, observe and learn. Most of all I since the joy that you are experiencing.
Well done, Amy! Ah, perfectionism… how well I know it. 😊❤️
I’ve also decided for myself: I’ll show up and do my best, and in the end it turns out better than I could have imagined. Wonderful, keep going!
Thank you for this beautiful reminder. I too, can hide behind the perfection thing. A wise friend said once to ” stop getting ready to get ready” and just do the thing already. At the time, I was less than happy about it (more cement) but she was spot on. I am so happy for your big win!
Amy — Your willingness to “just dive in” reminded me that done-is-better-than-perfect often leads to real progress. This is an excellent reminder for me. Thank you.
Amy, this is wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing this. So many times we get hung up on it not being perfect or right or…what ever else. I’m blue, I can definitely do that all to much!!! But this is the best example of letting it go and just digging in, and being flexible, but productive. You got this!
This is such a powerful and relatable breakthrough, Amy! 🎉 Your realization that “perfection has not served me well” is a game-changer. The way you consciously chose to have a finished Dream Board over a perfect one is a lesson in progress over paralysis. It’s incredible how that one decision created a ripple effect, giving you the freedom to apply the same “done is better than perfect” mindset to your recording and POA cards. Your journey is a brilliant reminder that we are here to practice and explore, not to perform perfectly. Thank you for the inspiring nudge to embrace the joy in the process