This question reminds me of stamp collectors or artists who transform errors into a special piece of art. I saw on TV a stamp collector who got a pretty unique stamp that appeared with a significant display error. There was no second stamp like that. Years have passed, and that stamp is worth a lot of money, and that guy never wanted to trade it. Is anyone here a painter? Yeah, there are, of course, moments when you accidentally have a special piece of art that is transformed from your mistakes. It’s unique! Anyway, the message of this question to me is that imperfection is a possibility of uniqueness. Happy Saturday, everyone! 💐
By letting go of perfectionism it helped to lessen my procrastination. I didn’t have to spend hours decluttering—just take 20 or 40 minutes, do what I could then in those moments. Then come back later. I felt a lightness on my shoulders. Ah!
Fortunately, I’m not a perfectionist. Possibilities come easier with a laid back lifestyle. I have a good amount of time and energy available for exploration in whatever areas of interest I choose.
The first thing that comes to my mind is that perfectionism is a time-waster. I waste a LOT of time trying to make my day perfect, by not wasting time, by doing everything on my list, by checking and re-checking my schedules, calendars, clocks, lists, etc, to see if I’m getting everything done that I want to. When really I’m wasting time doing that! OR I waste time trying to make the perfect decision – what movie to see, what to choose on a menu, what move to make in playing a game – I drive other people nuts by my time wasting need for perfection. Who knows what joys, laughter, creativity I might experience if I just went with my gut and quit thinking so much – I don’t know if it’s overthinking or perfectionism – probably both. I pray about it a LOT –
Letting go of perfection is so freeing! It is lightness and spaciousness. Do I sound like the recovering perfectionist I am? Perfectionism became exhausting to me. Working hard to let that go was such a satisfying gift I gave to myself. On the other hand, if I ever need a heart surgeon, I hope they are a perfectionist.😉🩷
I have always been a bit of a perfectionist, but I have come to learn that perfect is subjective. And that, really, nothing is perfect although at the same time it is depending on one’s perspective! My biggest area in letting go of perfection most recently is in my yoga teachings. I have had all of the thoughts of not being good enough, not knowing enough, and the like. But embracing the path I’ve found myself on, the path I chose with my heart, I continuously work on letting go of perfection. I tend to make little jokes if I say the wrong side or forget to do a side, reminding my students – and myself – that I am just human! I think they appreciate that and it allows them to not be hard on themselves as well. I went from teaching one class a week last summer to now teaching five, so the possibilities have been opening up, and though I am anchored in the present, I look forward to what lies ahead!
Letting go of perfection eases my heart and allows for more freedom to play – to be happy! Perfection is stiff and hard it’s not flow it’s far from the universe. Thank you for the wonderful gift of this question. Letting go is so grateful. Thank you. It makes me truly happy.
Letting go of perfection. Awareness I am not perfect. The surface ‘ I ‘ makes sure of this. One thing that has taught me about perfection is building a new barb wire fence under trees. When I build fence along a property line I want it to be straight. When I am done, I step back, look, tweak, adjust and then just like Goldilocks, I exclaim this fence is just right. Perfect. Invariably storms come, trees have illnesses too and the weak spots crack and fall with the air pressure and gravity. After removal of the fallen tree limbs, I splice snaped wire, reset steel posts, stretch the wire taunt and replace wooden fence stays if needed. My just right fence is still functional, but not ‘just right’. Peace, Love & Light.
Mary Mantei, this reminds me of buddhism. The core principles there are detachment and embracing change. I may be a Christian but was raised by, grew up, and surrounded by buddhists within my family, so I know the Buddhism system all to well. I’m what you call a “Buddhist Christian.”
Same here, EJP, especially when I’m reading the bible and surrounded by the right people like my root people or friends who give me what I need rather than possies.
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This question reminds me of stamp collectors or artists who transform errors into a special piece of art. I saw on TV a stamp collector who got a pretty unique stamp that appeared with a significant display error. There was no second stamp like that. Years have passed, and that stamp is worth a lot of money, and that guy never wanted to trade it. Is anyone here a painter? Yeah, there are, of course, moments when you accidentally have a special piece of art that is transformed from your mistakes. It’s unique! Anyway, the message of this question to me is that imperfection is a possibility of uniqueness. Happy Saturday, everyone! 💐
Being willing to make mistakes takes the pressure off, and I’m more willing to explore.
By letting go of perfectionism it helped to lessen my procrastination. I didn’t have to spend hours decluttering—just take 20 or 40 minutes, do what I could then in those moments. Then come back later. I felt a lightness on my shoulders. Ah!
You inspire me! Decluttering is a constant need.
Fortunately, I’m not a perfectionist. Possibilities come easier with a laid back lifestyle. I have a good amount of time and energy available for exploration in whatever areas of interest I choose.
The first thing that comes to my mind is that perfectionism is a time-waster. I waste a LOT of time trying to make my day perfect, by not wasting time, by doing everything on my list, by checking and re-checking my schedules, calendars, clocks, lists, etc, to see if I’m getting everything done that I want to. When really I’m wasting time doing that! OR I waste time trying to make the perfect decision – what movie to see, what to choose on a menu, what move to make in playing a game – I drive other people nuts by my time wasting need for perfection. Who knows what joys, laughter, creativity I might experience if I just went with my gut and quit thinking so much – I don’t know if it’s overthinking or perfectionism – probably both. I pray about it a LOT –
Katrina, as an autistic, I was once like that not too long ago. A slogan that has helped me is “Perfectionism is perf*cktionism.”
Making mistakes is making adjustments and opens up creativity.
I love this perspective.
I love it, Yram: trial and error.
Letting go of perfection is so freeing! It is lightness and spaciousness. Do I sound like the recovering perfectionist I am? Perfectionism became exhausting to me. Working hard to let that go was such a satisfying gift I gave to myself. On the other hand, if I ever need a heart surgeon, I hope they are a perfectionist.😉🩷
Mary Mantei, for most of us, we don’t need perfectionism. You make a great point about surgents. One wrong move can kill a patient.
I have always been a bit of a perfectionist, but I have come to learn that perfect is subjective. And that, really, nothing is perfect although at the same time it is depending on one’s perspective! My biggest area in letting go of perfection most recently is in my yoga teachings. I have had all of the thoughts of not being good enough, not knowing enough, and the like. But embracing the path I’ve found myself on, the path I chose with my heart, I continuously work on letting go of perfection. I tend to make little jokes if I say the wrong side or forget to do a side, reminding my students – and myself – that I am just human! I think they appreciate that and it allows them to not be hard on themselves as well. I went from teaching one class a week last summer to now teaching five, so the possibilities have been opening up, and though I am anchored in the present, I look forward to what lies ahead!
Very true, Sunnypatti. Perfectionism is a very broad topic.
Letting go of perfection eases my heart and allows for more freedom to play – to be happy! Perfection is stiff and hard it’s not flow it’s far from the universe. Thank you for the wonderful gift of this question. Letting go is so grateful. Thank you. It makes me truly happy.
Antoinette, your answer matches my values of freedom and flow. Perfectionism doesn’t play nicely with them.
Letting go of perfection. Awareness I am not perfect. The surface ‘ I ‘ makes sure of this. One thing that has taught me about perfection is building a new barb wire fence under trees. When I build fence along a property line I want it to be straight. When I am done, I step back, look, tweak, adjust and then just like Goldilocks, I exclaim this fence is just right. Perfect. Invariably storms come, trees have illnesses too and the weak spots crack and fall with the air pressure and gravity. After removal of the fallen tree limbs, I splice snaped wire, reset steel posts, stretch the wire taunt and replace wooden fence stays if needed. My just right fence is still functional, but not ‘just right’. Peace, Love & Light.
Impermanence is the name of the game isn’t it, Joseph?
Mary Mantei, this reminds me of buddhism. The core principles there are detachment and embracing change. I may be a Christian but was raised by, grew up, and surrounded by buddhists within my family, so I know the Buddhism system all to well. I’m what you call a “Buddhist Christian.”
Letting go of perfection enables me to relax and breathe, to open my heart and soul with a new perspective.
Same here, EJP, especially when I’m reading the bible and surrounded by the right people like my root people or friends who give me what I need rather than possies.