“Nobody’s perfect…” there’s a song in there somewhere. You don’t need to strive for flawlessness because such a thing does not exist. Setting such a high-performance standard is bound to bring you to the path of failure.
Why not ask yourself the reason behind your chase for this impossible trait? Instead of fixating on how society will see you, find freedom by eliminating the ‘shoulds’.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
― 2 Corinthians 10:5
The Bible says to get rid of any thoughts contrary to God’s word, i.e., if you meditate on something, you give power to it to take over your life. Focusing on such ideas kills your motivation and bounds you to your fear.
So, it’s high time you ditch perfection and start your journey to become your best self. Here are five ways to do it:
1.Try Something New
Those who chase perfection are settled in the same old routine. They fear change because it brings them to the unexpected. But isn’t that the fun of it? Isn’t there something that you have always wanted to try but never got the time for it? Now’s the time to explore your old or newly-found love and work towards conquering fear. The goal of trying something new is to get out of your comfort zone. This will allow you to discover something new about yourself, like a hidden talent you never knew about.
2.Beat Down the Negative Thoughts
Easier said than done, right? This might be true, but nothing in life is easy, especially stopping negative thoughts from invading your mind. Instead of stopping them completely, why not turn them positive? Try focusing on the good in a bad situation. It will take some time, but by being dedicated, you will accomplish it easily.
3.Don’t Quit
Just because you are trying to chase away perfection doesn’t mean that you should quit if you fail the first time… or the second time and a third time. Failure is a part of us and teaches us how we can change ourselves. Steve Jobs didn’t become successful by quitting when he couldn’t find the money to produce Apple computers. His perseverance showed him the way how to explore other routes and walk the unknown routes to finding success.
4.Sharpen Your Good Habits
Bad habits suck away determination, whereas good habits teach us how to keep moving forward. Developing the latter one takes time because going too fast can be a little overwhelming. Make incremental changes so that what you do can be easily incorporated into your life.
5.Show Gratitude
Last but not least, practice gratitude. Be thankful for what you have rather than mourning what you don’t. Gratitude teaches that life is meant to be enjoyed! So, next time you go out for dinner, thank the waiter for serving you, the doorman who held the door open for you, and the valet who parked your car.
And this is how you become a different, successful version of yourself, who isn’t concerned with doing things perfectly! Confidence building is the key to changing yourself, and that can only be done if you are willing to wall the path. All it takes is the first step, and the rest will follow through sheer determination.