Embracing Imperfection
This time of year can bring a lot of change and excitement and even extra motivation for self-improvement and personal goal setting. However, it is easy to get bogged down and burnt out when the changes you seek don’t happen right away or if your steps towards your goals get pushed off track. While this time of year can be refreshing, it can also perpetuate perfectionism and the “all or nothing” mindset meaning that we commit 100% or we don’t commit at all.
How can we diminish the guilty feeling or internal pressure that comes up when trying to maintain any kind of goal or resolution? An important thing to remember is that we are not perfect, and life can get in the way. Even when we set very attainable, well thought-out, measurable, realistic goals, we still might not meet our original expectations. And that’s OKAY! Here are a handful of tips that can help you fight off the perfectionistic tendencies and the all or nothing mindset:
Reflect on why you chose your goal or resolution in the first place. What change did you want to see from these goals?
Remember to use self-compassion. Continue to acknowledge that progress isn’t linear for anyone! And even though it is early in the year, consider that we are still in the winter months which often creates a more difficult environment for us to flourish.
Recognize how the stress of maintaining your goal 100% of the time can become more harmful and outweigh the positive impact of the goal itself.
Redirect your focus towards what you have been able to achieve. Again, progress isn’t linear. Some days you will work towards your resolution and some days you won’t. Instead of focusing on the times where you didn’t get to work on that goal, focus on the days that you were able to and celebrate this success along the way!
Adjust as needed. Is there room for flexibility within your goals and resolutions? It’s okay to adjust or pivot from your original plan, especially as circumstances can change.
As always, be kind to yourself. Change and new habits don’t form overnight. Patience and
self-compassion are two ingredients that can help keep you motivated throughout the rest of the year!