Journal Fodder 365 - Prompt #12

I've not really loved this chapter in Journal Fodder 365. I suppose I've found a lot of the prompts didn't necessarily speak to me on the deeper level that the previous chapters did. Or perhaps it's that I've been a little busier this past month. Who knows. 

Anyway, this prompt was embracing imperfection. Most of the questions were to do with control and letting go of control to embrace imperfections. I think I was a little sidetracked by the control issue rather than the imperfection. I was thinking about how I'm a contained person. I like to be in control of myself. I think a lot of it comes from having been bullied at school. Letting go and possibly making a fool of myself is something I find difficult. I've been laughed at just for being me - how much more so if I actually did something stupid? So I'm fairly controlled. 

On the other hand, in art I can be free and try new things and not be in control of the outcome. That's fun and if I don't like the result, well, it's only paint and paper. 

So how about you? Do you embrace imperfection?

Journal Fodder 365 - Prompt #9

Always a good subject - perfectionism is the next prompt to view my life through as I work my way through Eric Scott and David Modler's book.

They suggest thinking about things such as what sort of grip perfectionism has on your life, whether it matters what other people think, and why it is easy to see our faults but not our accomplishments.

The thoughts that came out were about how, when we strive for perfection, we focus on tiny details and lose sight of the big picture. We end up putting a lot of energy into something with very little reward. After all, if I make that circle perfect, it doesn't make the page look that much better compared with the time and anxiety expended. 

We start to doubt our abilities, compare ourselves with others, put ourselves under unnecessary pressure, find faults where no-one else can see them, and become harsh judges not just of ourselves, but also of others. Perfectionism leads to dissatisfaction and discontentment.

I don't think I've ever been a true perfectionist. I always want to do a good job, and I can easily see where I could have been better, but I don't get hooked up on it. I've learned to let things go and not beat myself up about it. Five minutes of bewailing the faults is my limit because what's the point? I need to learn from the mistakes and move on.  

I live an imperfect life because I am an imperfect human being. Personally, I'd rather be happy and mess up sometimes than strive for perfection that I will never be able to achieve on my own. That's where my faith allows grace and mercy in. Though sometimes we find it so much easier to extend it to others and fail to apply it to ourselves. 

Remember, the most anyone can ask of you - including yourself - is to do your best. 

Doing your best

Are you ever dogged by perfectionism? It can come from within or without, but wherever it comes from, it damages us.

When we demand that we be perfect in whatever area of life, we ask for the impossible. We will never achieve that target. We set ourselves and others up to fail.

When we are realistic about what we ask for, we are more likely to be pleasantly surprised. When we urge and encourage people - and ourselves - to give their best, they pull out all the stops. When we ask them to be perfect, they know they cannot reach that goal and will often give up before they really get started.

So why not be kind to yourself - and those around you - and ask for people to give their best rather than something that is perfect?