As a recovering protectionist, it is actually is shocking to me that I’m able to even say these words…..
Do you find yourself overwhelmed, anxious, stressed-out, defeated or beating yourself up about the ideal, idea of or the desire for perfection? Getting things just so, making things “perfect”?
If so, I have two words for you…..
The other day Robb Wolf posted on Instagram the following: “Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good enough…”
Today, I listened to the latest Well-fed Women podcast #162 where they had a short discussion about “good enough” and not killing yourself striving for perfection. This discussion was held somewhere between 7:00 – 13:00 minute marks. It is worth a listen.
They got me thinking…..
So many of us are harming ourselves and our relationships by trying to reach an ideal of perfection that is not going to get us any further or any happier than good enough will.
While many people could stand to step-up in many ways in their life to peruse things with more dedication and discipline to achieve goals; doing those things with the idea of reaching perfection is in vain. 9 times out of 10 good enough will get you where you want to be.
We are what we do and think the majority of the time. In my mind, 90% effort is good enough. 90% consistency will get you to your goal. There is no such thing as perfect, so take that word out of your vocabulary. Be good enough.
Having Standards, Having Goals
I do think it is important to have goals. If you don’t know where you are going, you won’t know how to get there. I think it is also important to have high standards. Don’t have-azz things. Do everything to the best of your ability; do it good enough. If you are lacking in ability, learn more, then do it.
There is a false since of failure associated with the idea of perfection and having high standards and goals. Thomas Edison said “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” That tells me that 1) Edison made a whole bunch of attempts 2) He didn’t quit 3) He didn’t waste time beating himself; he kept moving 4) Failure doesn’t actually exist or we wouldn’t have light bulbs right now.
So now there is two more words to remove from your vocabulary and thoughts…..”perfect” and “failure”.
Be and Do GOOD ENOUGH
