Progress over perfection

I was reminded of this concept during my latest session with the Harvard course I am currently taking. I believe this is a very powerful mantra to remind ourselves. I specify here; to remind the perfectionists in us and among us that growth isn’t linear, and we are humans. We will stumble, we will fall off track, life happens, and the journey isn’t always perfect. But we are capable of beautiful growth and change if we want it.

I find myself saying that to my kids, my clients and myself when I want to motivate them and motivate myself. Yes, sometimes we are stressed, sometimes we are overwhelmed and tired in a world that is incessantly rapidly changing, pressuring us with demands and sometimes unrealistic expectations.

As a woman, I have struggled with perfectionism. I expected myself to be a certain weight, size, hair and nails need to be well-kept. Home needs to be always picture-perfect. Kids need to have all As, be healthy, be competitive and play sports and music…Food needs to be delicious, yet healthy and not boring, social life needs to be flourishing, the list goes on and on…Then came a point where I wanted everything to halt and pause as I revisited my life and the pressures, I was putting on myself.

Today, I have learned to give myself, my kids and my clients compassion and grace. I believe we are all work in progress. Compassion is so important yet so underutilized and recognized. We all have our cross to bear, even if our cross isn’t huge or sometimes even visible (like some mental disability).  What is important is that we are showing up. We are not giving up. I tell my kids “You got a bad grade? Well bad grades happen to everyone, it is just a measurement for you to realize that you need to put in more effort and time”. I believe in the growth mindset; we can achieve so much more if we put our mindset and our time and effort in it.

My client may face a difficult week and fall off track, that is fine, compassion is there. I coach her/him to get back on track.

Yes, dust yourself off and get back on track and try harder. When life wants to knock you down, don’t surrender. Take a moment, give yourself some compassion, give yourself the time to grieve and feel your feelings. Validate your feelings. But don’t stay trapped in those negative feelings, acknowledge them and let them pass and leave.

Don’t let the opinions of other, their judgmental views knock you down. This is my first blog and I am trying not to let the negative opinions and judgments of others affect me as I follow my passion.

If you are reading this, I want you to know you are important, you matter, what you do is enough, who you are is enough. Keep pushing forward, keep growing yourself, mentally, physically, emotionally! You can do it!  I believe in you!

Change is possible, a healthier you are waiting to be revealed, join me on this journey of well-being, balance and health!

Rola