Perfectionism
“My
pastor said last Sunday that if you don't change directions, you're
going to end up where you are headed. Is that okay with you, to end
up still desperately trying to achieve more, and to get the world to
validate your parking ticket, and to get your possibly dead parents
to see how amazing you always were?”
Anne
Lamott
It's
understandable that many of us strive for perfection. We were
heavily rewarded for it as children—any time we made an A, or
scored a goal, or won a Science Fair First Place ribbon, we received
accolades. When we made a C, or sat on the bench for most of the
game, or were awarded an “Also Participated” ribbon, we got at
best, a tepid response, and at worst, punishment. We were set up by
parents who thought they were doing the right thing—the thing to
motivate us—when all they did was create that nasty little voice in
our head that tells us what a dismal failure we are when we're not
the absolute best. It was not their intention—they were doing what
had been done to them.
But
it's time to put away childish things! It's time to repent (change
directions). Time to tell that saboteur to shut up. Otherwise, you
will waste your precious life, and your considerable talents, trying
to achieve the impossible and being frustrated and depressed because
you can't. Perfectionism is a gobbling demon who eats up your time
and energy with endless cleaning and straightening, putting together
and taking apart, and in doing so, sucks the life right out of you
and your creations. You can't please him; it's his job to make you
miserable.
Anne
Lamott's suggestion for breaking through perfectionism is, “...make
a LOT of mistakes. Fall on your butt more often...” You will get
better because of falling and mistaking, and you'll realize that
being imperfect is not a death sentence. It is reality, and “reality
is not ideal!” Don't spend your life trying to please someone who
is not please-able. Repent! Turn around, and send the saboteur
packing.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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