Is it good enough?
This is something I've been wrestling with for a while now. As most of you know I am quite a perfectionist and although I am much better than I used to be, perfectionism still rings loud and clear in my life.
About a month ago I was having coffee with a good friend and she mentioned that she was trying to have things in her life be, "good enough." I am embarrassed by my gut reaction and am glad I didn't open my mouth. I found myself thinking, "Why in the world would you want to be good enough when you have the opportunity to be GREAT?" I kept quiet and then started to really think about what she said. She's someone I admire so I continued to replay this conversation and wonder about the impact this was having on her life.
This desire to be "GREAT" has at times provided me with such happiness and satisfaction. At other times it has caused me grief, sadness and a lack of confidence. My dad used to tell me I was black and white and I needed to work on letting a little gray into my life. That never made sense at the time. It does now.
After much thought and attention I have taken the phrase, "good enough," and tried to wrap my arms around it. I think it'd be an incredible thing for me to give myself permission for certain things in my life to be good enough rather than great. I want to find comfort in this gray... in not having to strive for perfection... in feeling good about myself even if I can't do it all.
I imagine that all of this pondering is part of growing up. Part of finding myself and my place in the world. Part of discovering what is important to me and how to live a happy, peaceful life. I imagine that although this is something that has been challenging me over the last month if I take the time to work through it I will be better because of it.
I do love life. I feel very blessed to have the family and friends that I do. I have always tried to be the best "me" I can be and although I still want to be that "best me," I also want to give myself the permission to celebrate my strengths and gently accept my weaknesses. We can't all be GREAT at everything so my new question in life is...
Sarah, is this good enough?
1 comment:
Great thoughts! Hard to not get down on yourself when something could have been "good-er" but in life sometimes enjoying the ride instead of perfecting it is so much more rewarding....okay, it took me a few days to think of something...is that "good enough?"
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