Gratitude in your life

The other day I talked about being happy with the things in your life and grateful for everything you have.  I wanted to touch on this more today from a perfectionist point of view. I think often times, I was focusing on the wrong things in life. I was trying to shape every moment to fit my expectations rather than just welcoming it as a gift. Perfectionism was me trying to control every expectation.

Like the other day, I was getting mad when things weren't my way, rather than being grateful I had time with my family.  Or even grateful that I have a family.  I think so many times, perfectionism tends to look at situations as if there isn't any choice.  And in reality, it's about realizing you do have a choice.  You have a choice, right now to make gratitude a part of your life.  No matter what happens, you have a choice to interpret a situation how you want to and be thankful for those moments.

Think about this for a moment.  You are blessed. You have this amazing life that God has created for you.  Gratitude is about loving that life as it is.  For me, it's realizing that I don't have to change people, or change situations or try to control everything. I can love life just how it is. I don't have to try to mold anything to fit some superficial perfectionist expectation that not even myself can reach.

So today, work to put more gratitude in your life.  You'll be amazed at the results!

Take Time to Heal

As with any type of self-help solution, things take time.  I look back at my life, and how long it took for me to become a perfectionist.  I'm talking probably almost 11 years, well, for me to at least realize I had a problem.  So my point is today, healing is certainly not going to be anything you can accomplish overnight, especially if this is something that has been plaguing your life for sometime now.

I have certainly realized that.  I look back about 7 or 8 months, when I was really starting to realize my controlling problem of perfectionism and then look at myself today.  I certainly haven't healed 100% yet. I still have moments of control, moments of needing to be perfect and certainly moments that are setting me back.  But what I can realize is this, I am healing, one step at a time.  Slowly, yes, but I am taking time to heal myself.  I look in the mirror and know that I am better than that person I was 8 months ago, better than that person even 3 months ago, and even better than the person I was last week.

The point is to keep working at it.  Find something that helps you heal. Whether it be reading blogs like this, reading books that help you from wanting to be in control, or even simpler, starting to write your own thoughts of what perfectionism means to you.  Find something that helps you to take that time that is much needed to heal.

Perfectionism is not going to be healed overnight, but find in yourself the strength to make a point to get a little better everyday.  Believe me, it will help in the long run.