Let go of perfectionism! It’s perfectionism that is making the holidays so difficult.
One of my favorite quotes is “Perfectionism is the enemy of the good.” When we want things to be perfect, we don’t get to enjoy the good that is already there. The good things in life are usually mixed up with stuff that is messy. Stuff that isn’t perfect. If we don’t need things to be a certain way, we are free to enjoy ourselves more.
Make up your own motto like “Perfectionism is outta here!” that you can say when things happen that threaten to undo you. “Perfectionism is shelved.” “The imperfect is good enough.” “Whatever happens is fine with me.”
If your holiday dinner is ruined, just be okay with a cheese sandwich. “A cheese sandwich is still a blessing. It may not be perfect, but it’s still a blessing.”
Perfectionism is so insidious that we don’t realize that’s what is causing our distress. We want things to be a certain way, but then things happen, people get sick, people disappoint us, etc. If you are angry at your family and friends because they didn’t play their parts well and they messed up your plans, you know perfectionism was involved.
Do you daydream about how things will be, and then when they don’t live up to your expectations, you get mad at people for “ruining” your special day? That’s perfectionism.
I’m calling out perfectionism in all its guises. The more we learn to recognize that’s what is happening, the more we can practice letting go of perfectionism.
You are not the director of your own Hallmark movie! Your friends and family are not there to live up to your expectations! You don’t have to be mad anymore. You also don’t have to feel bad for not being perfect. None of us is perfect. Isn’t that wonderful?
