Get Out of The Box

Breaking perfectionism ||

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This morning I was driving home from work and I was listening to a podcast. When I pulled in the driveway, there was only 5 minutes left of this 2 hour podcast I've been listening to for days. I sat there for a moment, trying to decide if I should finish it, knowing the giant to-do list that was waiting for me.

In the past, I would have finished the last few minutes without a question. I would have told myself, "it's only 5 minutes". I mean really, what difference could 5 minutes of scrolling and listening really mess up?

However, this conversation went differently this morning. I looked at how much time was left, the current time, and my to-do list. Without batting an eye, I shut off my car and walked inside to get started on my tasks for the day.

Moments later (while blending my breakfast), I realized I had FINALLY broken a bad habit.

You see, I am what I like to call a 'recovering perfectionist'. In the past, I would have NEVER been able to walk away from something so close to being done. Every project, every task had to be complete before I could even acknowledge that there was other things to be done. This only left me with a narrow mind and a whole lot of projects left untouched.

I finally broke the curse. Not everything has to be finished in one go. In fact, some things are never truly finished.

Then I realized what an advantageous place this is to be, especially when it comes to fitness and health.

You see, I used to have a very specific end goal in mind when it came to my fitness - especially my physique. But along the way there have been so many obstacles and so many lessons learned. The version of me that exists today doesn't have an end goal in mind, because fitness is so much more to me than just a rockin' body. It's part of my lifestyle.

The end goal you've set forth could very much be the thing that is limiting you from ever leveling up.

We put ourselves in these boxes. We give ourselves limits, deadlines, and a final. On top of it, we put our self worth in these limits. Then, when we fail the final or miss the deadline, we give up. Now, I'm not saying it isn't valuable to have goals, but it isn't helpful to place all of your value into achieving one specific goal.

When we focus on one benefit or one outcome, we miss out on the lessons we learn along the way and the other possibilities to come.

So, next time you think you've failed, or you missed a deadline you set for reaching your goals, take a step back. Take in all that you've learned along the way. Acknowledge that your journey doesn't just end here. You have gained so much experience and so much knowledge that will only take you 10x farther than you ever imagined.

Most of all, tear down the walls of that f'king 'perfection' box.