"Perfectionism-noun A disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable.
Perfection-noun The state or condition of being perfect.
Perfect-adjective Having no mistakes or flaws; completely correct or accurate; being entirely without fault or defect; satisfying all requirements." Definitions from Miriam-Webster dictionary
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As I kept sitting down to write my very first blog, I kept coming up "empty". I couldn't write a single word. Oh, I had ideas but nothing would come out on paper (let alone on a keyboard). So instead I set out to do a lot of "R & D"...I read books about blogging; researched the internet about blogging; watched teleseminars about blogging, read blogs about blogging. All good stuff but most definitely a "stall tactic"...no words would come out on paper for my very FIRST blog. I have been known to procrastinate (but that is a subject for another time), but this felt different. But how? Why? WTF?
I posted a quote on FB "Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love."
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First, what was I telling myself? I heard (hear) a lot of "stuff"..those pesky voices from the inner critic/saboteur... "You suck. You are so lazy. No one wants to read what you write. Do you even know grammar/spelling any more?" No wonder I couldn't write! But I deciphered the "real message" (Take time to clear away the BS to hear what the "real message" is)...I was afraid of not writing the perfect blog. I was in "perfection paralysis"! This blog has to be perfect, right? (Of course along with everything else needing to be perfect..social media posts/pages, web site, clean house, gourmet dinners cooked nightly--you get it) Is that true? (A GREAT question to ask yourself "early and often" to stop the slippery slope down the rabbit hole.) Is a perfect blog even possible? Onward to more "R & D" leading me to the definitions at the top of the page...no wonder I was scared and frozen...It is not possible to write/BE perfect..Duh! Whew, I began to feel better and gain some courage.
I am a life coach..one of the first things I do with my clients is make an agreement that our work will be done in a "laboratory"...there is no "right" or "wrong"; we are just experimenting, then learning from our "successes" and "failures" (I like to call them "opportunities for growth"). I encourage us to get "messy" and see where it takes us and what opportunities arise. Ah..I then remembered to give myself permission to get MESSY with my blog.
Next, suddenly the "universe" was sending me "signs". Someone posted on my FB "It's not what you say out of your mouth that determines your life, it's what you whisper to yourself that has the most power." How did they know I needed that? Would I ever talk to ANYONE the mean, spiteful way I was talking to myself? NEVER! I began to listen to what my inner champion/my captain had to say: "You have a gift to share-share it! You can do this. What have you got to lose?"
Then I heard this powerful advise "Don't get stuck in waiting for perfection. Make a decision; take action; go back and improve." Would I ever lead a client to think they had be perfect at something or don't do it at all? NEVER! I encourage them to take a teeny tiny step (or a gigantic one if they are "feelin' it!)..so here it goes my step..my FIRST blog post.
I hope you enjoy it's imperfection (Hey I just realize broken out that reads I'm Perfect!) and it gives you insight and courage to go get messy! Progress not perfection!
P.S. Pardon the imperction of any speeling, grammer errors (sic)...LOL
P.P.S If you'd like to learn more about me, pleae check out my website:
