I strive for perfection in all that I do. It has benefited me in several ways especially in business because my clients know that they will receive a quality product. However there are times when it has not been my friend because I am not okay with performing less than perfect. Although I clearly know that I am not perfect. This leads to stress and anxiety.
This journey has been a challenge for me because I want so much to finish what I started and to stay on the schedule. But it is okay if I miss a day right? I need to allow myself the flexibility of being able to do a job and not feel pressured to do it perfectly. That does not mean that I will ever sacrifice quality to get a job done. It means that I will do the best I can and be okay even if it is not perfect.
I am learning to allow myself additional time to get things done so that I minimize my stress level and things remain balanced. Having balance is important as it keeps me from exhausting myself. I have also learned about re-framing my thoughts. I take those negative, overly critical thoughts and turn them into self-inspiring, motivating thoughts. Instead of kicking myself for missing a day in my journey, I congratulate myself for not quitting and completing 16 days. I did my best.
I was very disheartened when I learned that my best efforts on my previous job were not appreciated nor acknowledged. It began to make me doubt my ability as a manager and made me want to quit. But I chose not to quit and stuck in there. I did a self-evaluation of my performance, remembered that I was a good manager and knew my job. I set out on a path to do my best and to work on the areas where I needed some improvement. After about three months I began to regain my confidence and saw some progress. Upper management would not acknowledge my progress but this time I did not allow it to make me feel bad about myself, because I knew that I had done my best.
Doing your best is all you can do because none of us will ever achieve perfection. The next time you are ready to beat yourself up over not doing something perfectly or someone else does it to you remind yourself that you did your best and therefore are still successful.
I would like to share the following poem with you and hope it helps remind you to do your best.
Do the Best You Can
by Rhoda-Katie HannanThis I pray for you, my friend
That you strive to be all that you can be,
Yet never become a copy of another
That you realize your own unique qualities,
And all that makes you special
That you open your eyes to the beauty in each day
That you reach out to others less fortunate than you
That, by giving, you learn the joy of receiving
That you let go of the sadness of the past,
Yet always remember the good moments
That you learn to accept life as it is,
Even with its problems and disappointments
For life is meant to be enjoyed and, at all times, endured, but never taken for granted
And I pray that you will be aware at all times that you are one special person,
Among all special persons
And do the best you can.