How often do we actually think that?
Do you know how long it has taken me to write a blog post? A ridiculously long time.
A while ago I decided that I had to plan my blog posts in advance before I started writing them. But I also wanted to have a chunk of them written in advance for a smoother transition. It was logical, I thought. Better for business. And whilst I still believe that, it was actually getting me nowhere. I hadn’t sat down and coordinated my perfect grand plan. I wrote and re-wrote blog ideas too many times over. I wanted to perfect one before moving on to another. I would add content for more depth. Then I would subtract for simplicity. I would add more for clarity. And then subtract to reduce confusion and repeating. It was exhausting and as I said, it got me nowhere.
Which leads me to a coaching call I had. I expressed my frustration and my coach said to me (gently but also with enough oomph to let me know my excuses were not being accepted) “Kristina, done is better than perfect”.
It took a while for that to sink in. But it made sense. Writing doesn’t have to be perfect. No one will scold me for writing a crappy blog. The world wouldn’t end and I wouldn’t die if my blog was just average. So why would I waste precious energy trying to perfect something that would never be perfect?? I have great content to deliver to you guys and getting that information across to you is far more important (even if it’s imperfect), than not delivering at all!
When we hold back like this, we aren’t just affecting ourselves. We are also affecting our immediate friends and family, as well as the people in our community. How many people could you positively impact? How much energy would you save if you didn’t worry about being perfect? How much more authentic could you be with your family and friends if you weren’t trying to be perfect?
What if you could be accepting of yourself and your efforts and have confidence in yourself that you are doing your best, and that that is good enough? How much more success would you achieve and more importantly, how much happier would you be?
Whether you’re stepping into the Crossfit Open or doing a marketing plan for work or redoing the backyard at home, “Done is better than perfect” and you have the potential to feel “good enough” in knowing that.
So challenge yourself. When you catch yourself trying to do more, trying to be perfect, trying to lift heavier, go faster or whatever it may be, stop and check in with yourself. What are you trying to achieve by being “perfect”? Will it ever actually be “perfect”? Probably not. So breathe, and remember “done is better than perfect” and I bet you will see the truth in that statement.
“You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously”