I was raised Christian. I studied hard and tried to be perfect as a means of “honouring God.” The tr
I was raised Christian. I studied hard and tried to be perfect as a means of “honouring God.” The truth is… I actually really enjoyed studying and creating work for myself. . . Later, at the end of middle school, I read the Bible with new eyes and realized it was a collection of contradictions. Inspiration, spirituality… yes. Also shame, control, and a very restrictive set of belief systems. . . I’d been raised to show my value through my school marks. My parents said, “just do your best!” But I knew what they really meant. . . Then I realized I was smart. I found out I could study less, not try as hard, and still get A’s. . . I figured out how to work the system. I got excellent at guessing. I knew how to word answers to sound *smart* when I didn’t know what I was talking about. I figured out how to cut corners and avoid the unnecessary. . . It was “good enough.” . . I took this work ethic through University. In hind sight, I realize that if I’d been more invested in what I was studying, I might not have taken until 4th year to say, “wow I don’t want to be in science.” . . But it was good enough. I got that damn piece of paper, and I have the debt that came with it. . . “Good enough” is self sabotage because it undercuts our true potential. It prevents us from thinking critically about our actions. It’s a way to coast while numb. . . I was in abusive relationships through my entire University experience. It’s a god damn miracle that I graduated, even if I got the ‘wrong’ degree. . . On the flip side, perfectionism is a different kind of self sabotage. We will stop ourselves from finishing projects, pursuing opportunities, or doing anything at all for the sake of wanting it or ourselves to be perfect as a condition. . . In this case, “good enough” could be the ticket to freedom. I love @elizabeth_gilbert_writer’s ‘Big Magic’ when she says, “Done is better than perfect.” This is my anti-perfectionism mantra. . . “Good enough” isn’t inherently self sabotaging. It takes mindfulness and self awareness to discern the difference. What’s your experience with Good Enough, self sabotage, and perfectionism? (at Lethbridge, Alberta) https://www.instagram.com/graceunfoldingwithcaitlin/p/Bu9sUiHn8NC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=uwrw7682h6lq -- source link