An alternative to perfect?
The problem is, I’m a perfectionist.
How does that serve you?
It drives me forward. It makes me really committed to doing things well. But it slows me down. It can even stop me.
Is anything ever perfect?
No, never!
Do you actually believe in the concept of perfect?
I guess not…
I think most of us agree that few things are ever truly perfect. The man or woman of our dreams. The ideal job. The blemish free holiday. We know they don’t exist – there will still be spreadsheets or photocopying at the new office; there will be rainy days on even the most wonderful holiday; …and the most wonderful human beings still have strange bathroom habits or bedtime rituals. Or so I’ve heard…
If we agree that ‘perfect’ doesn’t exist, then…
what on earth is perfectionism and how does it help or hinder?
what is the alternative to our pursuit of this elusive ‘perfect’?
what does ‘enough’ look like and how will we know when we’re there?
what might we unlock, by identifying our version of ‘enough’, and how might this enable us to move on to the next task or idea?
By identifying a realistic position between the elusive ‘perfect’ and the somehow forbidden ‘enough’, how much more productive might we become, and how much more might we enjoy our jobs, our relationships, our holidays… our lives.
Might ‘enough’ be where we finally find – in all its compromised messy glory – our ‘perfect’?
I’ve enjoyed so many conversations around this subject, often with overwhelmed or anxious clients exploring how they can feel better about their direction in life. For more information about my coaching – supporting and challenging you to explore life’s highways and byways – please contact me at susie@yorkskinner.co.uk to arrange a chat.