The other day, I found myself in a familiar scenario: FaceTiming with my cousin (or my “sister-cousin” as I like to call her), running through my jam-packed schedule for the week ahead. But her puzzled expression stopped me mid-sentence. “How are you not freaking out? How are you so calm?” she asked, genuinely curious. It made me pause and reflect because, truth be told, I hadn’t given much thought to the mountain of tasks awaiting me. It wasn’t a matter of ignoring all the items on my to-do list or brushing aside responsibilities; rather, it was a quiet confidence that whispered, “You’ll handle it.”
It’s funny how life has a way of throwing us these little reality checks, isn’t it? As I shared with her, sure, I still battle those lingering perfectionist tendencies. But lately, I’ve been practicing the art of embracing imperfection. Call it a work in progress, or perhaps a perpetual journey towards letting go of the need for everything to be flawless. Because let’s face it, who among us isn’t a card-carrying member of the “recovering perfectionists” club? Me me me!
Take, for instance, my impending debut as a group fitness trainer at my gym. I’ll be the first to admit: those initial classes might not meet my lofty standards. But hey, as they say, you’ve gotta start somewhere, right? So, I’m adopting a mantra: “embrace the suck.” It’s a humorous reminder to lean into the messy, imperfect process of growth, rather than getting hung up on comparing yourself to other trainers who have been doing this forever.
And then there’s the imminent arrival of our house guest, poised to grace us with her presence for nearly a week (I’m super excited! She’s an Aussie and this will be our first time spending this much time together). The house won’t be magazine-cover clean, and yes, there might be a few forgotten corners of the never-ending saga of tumbleweed cat hair … but you know what? It’ll be good enough. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about striving for perfection; it’s about creating space for connection and moments shared.
“Perfect is the enemy of good.”
~Voltaire
In what areas of your life can you embrace the “good enough” and let go of perfectionism?