Hi Mama,

Did you know I am a recovering perfectionist? I used to be so hard on myself, setting unrealistic expectations of myself and berating myself when I didn't live up to them.

Eeeep!

Wanting to do everything right, being unwilling to "fail" and worrying about what other people might think of me if I didn't do a good - no, a FANTASTIC job, on everything.

Does this sound familiar? I was also a chronic people pleaser, which also fed into my perfectionistic tendencies.

I have done a lot of work over the years to move past both my people pleasing and my intense expectations of myself. Perfectionism really is the thief of joy. If you're striving for perfectionism across your life, there is never any room to enjoy the moments along the way, no option to learn from mistakes and understand the opportunity they present, no time to slow down and just be because that's time you could spend achieving something.

Is this landing for you Mama?

How can you start letting go of your perfectionism? Well, the first big step is realising what you're doing to yourself, so well done! Next, allow yourself to do some self reflection. Ask yourself, what is it that chasing perfection is bringing me? How am I trying to keep myself "safe" by setting such high expectations of myself? Is this reach for perfection hiding an underlying fear(s)?

Contemplate this uplifting quote from the great Nelson Mandela: "I never lose. I either win or learn." If something doesn't turn out as you'd hoped, choose to find the learning within this situation rather than instantly berating yourself for "not being good enough".

You can choose to seek some further help in working through your perfection by talking it through with a trusted friend or family member, reaching out to a counsellor or trying a wholistic healing practice such as Kinesiology.

Be kind to yourself Mama. You are an amazing and unique individual and no one else is exactly like you!

Here's to being perfectly imperfect!!

Michelle

Flourish Mama