I am learning it perfectly. I am excited to try something new.
I am learning it perfectly. I am putting this information into use the best way I know how.
I am learning it perfectly. I cannot control the outcomes, but I know the best possible results are following my inspiration.
I am a recovering perfectionist. How 'bout you?
I was one of those people that kind of screwed things up a bit, colored outside the lines, didn't read the instructions before starting the recipe. I used to think I was the farthest thing from a perfectionist because, well, nothing I ever did was even close to perfect.
Then I learned that perfectionism stems from anxiety. The idea that either you have to do it right, or don't do it at all. I had a lot of that going on in my life, still do if we're being honest.
I got in a heated debate with one of my best friends about perfectionism, she tends to be a practically perfect in every way type of friend - the worst, am I right? She claims perfectionism is quite healthy because why shouldn't you just try to do whatever thing the right and best way every time?
It must be so nice to live that kind of life without crippling anxiety and a healthy sense of self.
I, of course, disagreed at the time and went on about how damaging that can be to some people - namely myself. In the end, we agreed to continue to disagree.
These days we are getting a lot of messaging that perfection doesn't exist. And yes, 100%. But we are also bombarded with images and finished products of things that look so perfect/great/wonderful/beautiful that it can seem too scary to start or try whatever it is we want to try.
Anyway, I was listening to a podcast and the host was going on about wherever you are right now you are in the PERFECT place. Knowing where your feet and mind are right this second is PERFECT because then you can start and how you do the thing is exactly and perfectly how you're supposed to do it and we can find comfort and ease in that thought.
That got me thinking about how people say when you've done something 'Oh, it's perfect!' and maybe you have had an inner dialogue that is like, 'eh, it's not perfect, but it's done'. There are a few sayings we all probably know too, like progress over perfection or done is better than perfect, both meaning that doing the thing and getting better is preferred than holding yourself up waiting for some unattainable goal.
Obviously, I agree wholeheartedly. But, I think I want to add just one more idea into the mix. Maybe it's not a new idea, and if I've accidentally stolen it I apologize but I am LEARNING PERFECTLY.
That's the idea, LEARNING PERFECTLY, the thing you're creating may not be perfect, because well, who gets to decide what perfection is, that's why it doesn't exist, it's completely made up. BUT I am loving this idea, especially for myself, and I can use this to say to my kids as well, that you/I/we are learning it perfectly. We are getting the information in the best way we can, we are taking that and processing it and interpreting it and putting it out into the world in the perfect order for us.
So even if we totally fucked something up, burned the dinner, ruined the canvas, we can say 'eh, I learned it perfectly'. Learning it perfectly leads us to the next situation that will help us grow and move on to the next thing we are inspired to learn and try.
I think that doing something perfectly means it's over or complete. We get these concepts that at some point there will be an end to it all... laundry, school, dishes, once the house is clean we never need to do it again, it looks perfect. But that's not really true. There is no perfect and done, unless it's a cake maybe. And even then, you are learning perfectly how you enjoy the process, the tools and techniques you prefer, if you'll ever do it again.
You are learning it perfectly, in the way that is meant for you right at this moment where your feet are right here and now. And you will take that information and move and do and try and learn perfectly for the next part of your day.
