I few years ago, when struggling with perfectionism at work I read a great quote: Don’t Let the Perfect Be the Enemy of the Good (Voltaire). I have never forgotten it – it screamed loudly to me and something went CLICK the moment I read it. I realised its silly to let perfectionism prevent you from starting, or finishing, something that you want or need to do.
It applies to 12WBT and the changes we all are striving to make. Don’t tie yourself up trying to be ‘perfect’. From where ever you are right now – and we are all at different starting points in this journey – aim to just keep moving forward – take THE NEXT STEP. One step at a time. Baby steps. Some days you will take one baby step… some days you will take 10 baby steps…. and some days you will even travel in massive kangaroo-style leaps and bounds. And some days you feel like you are not moving… and that’s when you just take THE NEXT STEP.
Whatever that is… to walk 10 metres more than you did last time….. to aim to write down your food intake for the day…. small improvements. Small steps forward. Constant, consistent improvement is the key to meeting your goals. I PROMISE!
I was overwhelmed at first when I started. The perfectionist in me wanted to DO IT ALL, DO IT NOW & DO IT PERFECTLY.
What a load of rubbish. The important thing was that I took a STEP FORWARD. Just one step, the most important one – THE NEXT STEP.
For me, at this point in my first round this time last year… that meant going for a 30 minute walk around the block eventhough I did not want to. Others were posting about running 10km, marathons etc… that was not where my journey was at. I had to understand and accept this was MY JOURNEY and I had to take THE NEXT STEP in MY JOURNEY.
Don’t keep looking at the whole journey… don’t keep thinking “Oh my goodness I have to lose 50kg, how will I get there??“ Just focus on the next 5kg. Break it into small goals. I was chatting once to this student who’s parents took her around the world climbing mountains along the way. I asked how on earth she got through it and she said “I learnt never to look at the top of the mountain and instead to just think about the next step”. Again, something went CLICK for me that day. It’s all about THE NEXT STEP!!
So – what is THE NEXT STEP for you? Is it watching the 12WBT videos you haven’t watched yet? Is it connecting on the forums? Is it going for a walk or doing a Mish DVD in the lounge?
Whatever it is, just do it. JUST TAKE THE NEXT STEP. YOUR next step. Mish & all her crew are here to support you. xx
I hadn’t heard that Voltaire quote before – thanks for sharing!
You are most welcome! I just checked out your blog – love it! Bookmarked to spend more time there soon
Sound advice. Thanks for the reality check.
Ange
Great post. I too suffer from the ‘near enough isn’t good enough’ perfectionist behaviour! It’s hard to stifle those thoughts but I’m going to keep trying to take every day as it comes and focus on the battles, not the war.
Deb
Absolutely! I love it – focus on the battles, not the wars!
My partner said a great thing early in our weight loss and fitness journey , around this time last year….. he said “It has taken us years to get to this point, we can’t expect to undo it & lose the weight in just a few weeks”. Smart boy, glad I said yes when he proposed last year. He’s a keeper
It is VERY healthy for me to have a non-perfectionist around…. he is such a fantastic influence on me. He ‘keeps it real y’all’. LOL!
Awesome Ange! the next step – I love it! Thanks for sharing, it’s made me think about what my next step is.
Thanks Heidi!! I hope you have taken that next step and many many more since I posted this blog! xx
A fantastic blog as always!!! I’m off to share it with the Perth Crew as I know alot of the newbies (and even some of us oldies!) are struggling a little!
Thanks Sarah!! I hope it helps
xxx
Brilliant post Ange – so eloquent & on the money!!! Exactly what I needed to hear:-) (especially after being sick for two weeks)
Thanks Bridge!! I hope you are feeling better and smashing all the big goals you have for study and beyond xx
Pingback: The Science of Weight Loss is Simple – Stripping it Back to Basics | From F**ked to Fab
Oh Angela, that’s me – and quite a few of us by the sounds of it! I have just watched my daughter screw up a piece of paper she was drawing on and as she groaned I asked her what was wrong. “It’s not good enough, I messed it up, now I have to start all over again.” Seems she’s just like mum! Thanks for sharing. Michelle H xx.
Thanks for such sound advice. I am a recovering perfectionist, and its a delight to read the light bulb moments that you have had. I’ve enjoyed reading your most recent posts, aswell. I must admit I am having a struggle moment so I elected to look for inspiration and I am happy to say you have provided it for me.
PS When I got to the bottom of this post the Google advertising was a big picture of a hamburger!
as usual Ange, such an inspiring and profound post… thank you so much for your constant support, praise and positive words and thoughts. I too suffer from the “perfectionism” gene (although I refer to it as my OCD! lol) but again, you are so on point as to how to get through that and push forward to the end goal.
thank you
This is just what I needed to read. Thank you once again for your wise words