Are you perfect? Why not?
Maybe because it’s just do hard to always do it “right.”
Most people who are perfectionists tend to be all-or-nothing thinkers who follow the theme, do it right or don’t do it at all.
But since they never reach the point where they’re able to do it right, true perfectionists never start.
By letting go of some of your rules and rigid expectations, you’ll be able to achieve a lot healthier balance in nearly every area of your life. You will also find that you can manage your diet and exercise plan a lot easier.
So instead of expecting yourself to never eat sugar or to eat only when you’re hungry, allow for a few exceptions. Look for ways you can settle for a small amount of progress yet still manage to feel successful.
I actually believe that being a perfectionist isn’t all bad. If you want to become healthier around your perfectionism, start treating it as a wonderful GIFT.
Now you just have to decide when to use your gift and when to store it on a shelf. With this approach, you can draw on your perfectionism when it matters, but other times, choose to let it go.
Today’s assignment (My answers are in blue)
1. Do something less than perfectly. Don’t make your bed. Leave a few crumbs on the kitchen counters. Hang a picture at a crooked angle and leave it that way all day. Describe what you did, and whether it was difficult for you.
I get hung up on perfectionism with my writing. I want it to be “right,” but sometimes that keeps me from even starting. It helps me when I have a deadline because then I can’t make it perfect every time.
2. Eat one food that’s not on your current diet plan. Even one chocolate chip can help you realize you don’t lose ground just because you took one step off the side of the road. Write down what you ate as well as what you did next.
Recently, I’ve been having one or two tablespoons of my favorite foods or desserts, and letting that be part of my narrow road without being perfect.
3. Record today’s imperfections in the space below. Add a few lines about how it felt to do this exercise.
Perfection makes me do nothing, including writing. I tell myself to write SOMETHING rather than wait for the perfect time or place to write.
Excerpted from Day 73 in the book 100 Days of Weight Loss