No one expects you to be perfect.
This is a common statement I make to my kids. It’s true for all of us. To go a step further, I don’t even WANT them to be perfect. If they are perfect in everything they do, then they aren’t stretching themselves enough and trying new things.
Do you know what comes with trying new things? Failure. When we fail, we give ourselves the opportunity to learn, grow, and mature.
My kids come by this pursuit of perfection quite honestly. Over the years, I have tended to be my own worst critic. Constantly in pursuit of perfection. It’s exhausting. Can you relate?
For example, growing up I enjoyed playing basketball. When I would make a shot in basketball, there were times where I would think of how I could have made the shot…better. WHAT?! It wouldn’t have counted for any more points, but I felt I could have done something to make it more…..perfect.
How insane is that? We successfully complete a task, achieve the goal, and then act like it wasn’t good enough. We put out disclaimers and downplay the success we just achieved. Why do we do this to ourselves? Worse, why do we do this to the things God is doing through us? It happens all the time. Next time you are in a team meeting or group setting, listen to what happens when one person offers another person a compliment. Most likely it will be contradicted or downplayed.
And now I see the same mindset creeping into the way my kids process their performance and the pressure they put on themselves. It can be crippling for them at times. So, I’ve begun telling them I don’t even want them to be perfect. I want them to do two things:
- Give their FULL EFFORT in everything they do.
- FINISH what they start.
That’s it. Focus on completion as opposed to perfection. The pursuit of completion can bring fulfillment. Bask in the celebration of “You did it!” as opposed to “You could have done it better.” There is a time and place to evaluate and improve, but completing deserves some time in the spotlight as well. The pursuit of perfection can be paralyzing.
Paralyzing to your self-confidence.
Paralyzing to your mental health.
Paralyzing to your productivity.
Paralyzing to your dreams.
And paralyzing to your relationships.
When we give our FULL EFFORT and FINISH what we start, we may miss out on perfection, but chances are pretty good we will become acquainted with excellence. It is possible to be excellent without being perfect, and the pursuit of perfection will limit your ability to enjoy the excellence you achieve.
More and more, my kids are complaining of growing pains. Their bones are growing, their ligaments are expanding, and their muscles are getting bigger. It’s a natural part of their development as humans. When they complain of growing pains, I celebrate. I cheer them on as they experience the physical pains which remind them they are growing. Do they want to stay little their whole lives? Of course not! The growing pains are the path forward. We should embrace that path in every part of our lives. I want my kids to learn to be comfortable with growth, and the pains associated with it.
Stop pursuing perfection and start celebrating growth as you strive for excellence.
#daddylessons
DADDYLESSONS 