Find Freedom From Perfectionism

The new year is off and running!  

Did you set any New Year’s resolutions?

Have you stuck with your intentions?

If you haven’t, you’re not alone.

Here’s the thing about “typical” New Year’s resolutions: They often ask you to be perfect.

And you know what?

No one is perfect.

Not a single person on this planet.

Nope, not even that guy you constantly compare yourself to.

He’s NOT perfect.  

NO ONE IS!

So, cut yourself some slack, man.

You’re doing the best you can, and that’s enough!

If you fell off your resolution horse, get up, dust yourself off, and get back on it!

But!

Before you try to ride again, take a look at that goal you’ve set for yourself.

Is that “horse” you’re trying to ride actually a horse? Or are you attempting to tame a polar bear? 

In other words, have you created a goal that is achievable? Or is your beast of a resolution setting you up for failure? 

Set Better Goals This Year

If you’re struggling to meet the goals you’ve set for yourself this year, it’s possible the source of your difficulties is not what you think.

Maybe it’s not that you don’t have enough willpower…

Maybe it isn’t that you’re “lazy” or “dumb” (spoiler alert: you’re likely NOT those things or any of the other hurtful labels you apply to yourself!)…

Maybe you simply need to work on setting more attainable goals!

Instead of beating yourself up for your perceived failure, learn from it.

Instead of giving up on your dreams because you hit a roadblock, find a way around it!

Set a smaller goal that heads in the general direction of that original monstrosity you tried in vain to tame. 

And then decide to never give up.

No more “all or nothing” thinking here.

Do something every day to move you closer to where you want to be.

ANYTHING!

Even one step forward is progress.

Life is like a bucking bronco, trying to throw you off the rails, shoving crazy things in your face that you couldn’t have planned for…

But that’s life! 

And that’s why it’s so awesome to be alive in the first place…

Because sometimes those surprises are awesome!

Like finding money in your coat pocket…

Or running into an old friend at the grocery store.

The point is, you can’t always know what to expect.

Because no matter how much we may try to “have control,” we don’t.

And that’s okay, man.

It’s okay that you don’t know everything.

It’s okay that you can’t fix everything the first time you try. (*kicks the foam machine*)

It’s okay if you haven’t found the customers you wanted to find for your spray foam business yet.

IT’S OKAY!

And you know what else is okay? The fact that you’re not perfect.

Because – that’s right – no one is perfect.

It’s time you allowed yourself to find freedom from perfectionism.

Freedom is a Mindset

We like freedom here at Freedom Foam & Equipment. 

We’re fans of doing as we please when we please. (There’s a shocker!)

But freedom is more than just “sticking it to the man.”

Freedom is a mindset. 

It is a practice.

Because every day – each moment – is different.  

And every day brings unique challenges with it.

To attain a freedom mindset, we have to let go of perfectionism.

And freedom from perfectionism? Well. That’s life-changing.

Because you no longer expect yourself to be something that you’re not.  

No one is perfect, remember?

Perfection is an impossible standard to hold ourselves to.  

And when we expect ourselves to live up to that standard, we set ourselves up for failure…because we cannot succeed.

We’re humans, not gods.  

So quit it with the perfectionism, already!  

Instead, do what you can do – TRY!

It’s okay if things don’t go the way that you expected.  

And it’s okay to make mistakes – that’s how we learn in these human-shaped forms we have!

Mistakes are the agents of growth. (Even if they’re not your mistakes!)

Now, listen. We aren’t recommending that you make choices that you know are wrong to make.

Don’t make the choices that will weigh on your conscience or break laws, dude. 

Duh. 

And while we’re stating the obvious, here’s this: it’s advisable to do your research and make informed decisions when you can.

Using your brain is awesome, man!  

All caveats aside, though, the thing we’re trying to get across is this: 

Stop expecting yourself to be perfect, and let yourself make the decisions that need to be made!

After weighing your decisions against your conscience, the law, and the facts, make the choice.

No more fretting over whether or not the way you are planning to do a thing is the very best way you could possibly do that thing.

JUST DO THE THING!

No more agonizing about whether this trash bag brand would be better than that one (buy the other ones next time if the brand you choose sucks)…

No more stressing over whether the work you’re doing is the “right” thing for you to do with your life (you’re more than your work! Besides, just doing the thing can create meaning and opportunity in your life – and you can always get another job if necessary) …

No more worrying about what grade you would have gotten from your 8th-grade math teacher when you’re using the skills she taught you while bidding a job (build in some wiggle room, instead!)…

Nah, man. Just do the thing!

When you give yourself permission to be yourself, you are practicing freedom.

The same principle applies when calling finished projects finished…

Or when re-examining the goals you set at the beginning of the year so you can set yourself up for success, instead of ensuring failure. 

Life is about dreaming and going after the things that are important to you.

And as long as we are moving forward – even in a tiny way – we are succeeding!

One step at a time.

If you want to get somewhere, you have to take the necessary steps to get there.

If you don’t want to do those steps, maybe you don’t actually want that thing.

Maybe you just like the dream.

… but that is also okay!  

You’ve learned something about yourself.

But it makes no sense to feel bad about yourself for something you don’t actually want!

Maybe it’s time to let go of that goal and work towards a different dream!

So.

What was your new years’ resolution?

Does it actually matter to you?

If it does, then do something to work toward it…but let go of the idea of perfection, cut yourself the slack you need to keep going, and quit trying to do everything all at once.

Focus on the next step, not the mountaintop.

You can do this!

Conclusion

It’s time to practice a freedom mindset!

Let go of perfectionism!

Learn from those mistakes!

Get back on that resolution horse and ride it! 

(But no riding polar bears, mmmkay? Find yourself a horse, instead.)

You’ve got this!

And if there is a way we can help you crush your goals this year – like shipping you some stellar spray foam – give us a call. 

We can’t wait to watch you thrive!