Perfectionism…is it the opposite of progress for you?
Perfectionism…is it the opposite of progress for you?
Have you thought about trying something new, something you always wanted to do? You researched it, made plans and saved up. Everything was set, but you never moved forward. You were so excited, what happened? Did you procrastinate, did perfectionism halt your progress?
Let’s talk about the 3 P’s
Procrastinating- The action of delaying or postponing something (fear of failure, a way of coping with challenging emotions like anxiety, insecurity and self doubt.) Self blame around the cycle of avoiding may lead to “procrastinatory cognitions.” We feel bad about not doing it, that makes us feel worse so we wanna do the thing less.
Perfectionism- Someone that strives for flawlessness (fixating on imperfections, trying to control situations/outcomes, unrealistic expectations of self, punitive self evaluations) We Have to get it “right” or else that means we’re “wrong”?
Progress- forward movement, to move toward a higher, better or more advanced stage. (trust, patience, compassion, realistic expectations of self) Inner knowing that it’s a process, it’s not helpful to compare ourselves to others and we’re right where we need to be!
Kids have a way of moving swiftly from idea to implementation. They tend to believe in themselves and not worry too much about doing things perfectly.
Let’s channel the power of your inner kid to bring fun, self confidence and “practice helps progress” energy to something new you wanna do!
Here’s some ideas about how:
Pay attention- to your thoughts and feelings when you begin to avoid a project. Is your mind racing with thoughts in an attempt to distract you from uncomfortable emotions? Does your chest feel tight like you can’t take a deep breath and settle for a moment? If you feel scared to start because you “don’t know enough yet” can you let this part of you be fully present. Ask what it wants you to know, allowing space without pushing it down or away.
Put it down- on paper that is! Our body & mind are masterful multitaskers…especially when they think what they're doing is in our best interest. Often it’s based on conditioning and patterns, not what’s most helpful for our growth. Writing is a way to interrupt the chain of thinking/ doing. Notice when these patterns of shutting down or avoiding start to show up. Journaling can be a judgment free way to gain clarity and awareness.
Practice celebrating- your progress, what that means to you. It will look and feel different for each of us. It may look like connecting dots on thought patterns and noticing when you’re shifting into old behaviors that don’t match the outcome you want. This is HUGE!
Maybe it looks like being vulnerable, letting your guard down when not being good at something feels more scary than fun. It takes great strength to be vulnerable and try new things!
