Learning to Be brave
I don’t know about you but I have always been a bit (okay more than a bit) of a perfectionist. I’ll admit it. This is not one of my best traits and I’ve watched it affect my work, relationships, and personal goals.
I used to try to put out the perfect product or the perfect picture, for example. My anxiety would skyrocket at the thought of failing at anything. I absolutely hated failing. My competitive nature didn’t help me either and only fueled the perfectionism. It made it so I didn’t put out anything – the picture or the product – because I couldn’t get it perfect in my mind.
The thing is, we all know perfection isn’t something we can obtain. We know it, yet we still reach for it. How crazy is that? It wasn’t until a loved one pointed out that I set unrealistic expectations for myself that I took a step back and saw how hard I was on myself. **light bulb** Wow, I really was.
I didn’t set those expectations for anyone else. Why did I set them for myself?
Making the Change
This past year, I’ve worked hard to accept being a work in progress. I wasn’t always okay with it. I will say that once I did learn to accept my imperfections, things became a whole lot easier! But accepting the imperfections was a process!
I am a work in progress, and I am okay with that. I use this as an affirmation and I repeat it a lot! Saying this to myself helped me get through those moments when I wanted to perfect parts of my life and in the process, stopped myself from living.
It took everything in me to be brave and to resist the perfectionism and do the thing anyway. I’ve never been happier.
A Recovering Perfectionist
I’ve learned that failure is an important part of success. I would much rather learn from my failures than never grow. When we are brave and let go, we grow! We may stumble from time to time but every time we stumble, we learn something about ourselves.
My advice to you: Be brave and experience life. All of it!
We cannot have the immense highs if we never experience the lows. We cannot grow if we don’t learn from making mistakes.
I’m Being Brave – From Hawaii
I’m writing this blog from the island of Kauai, part of the Hawaiian Islands. I had never been to this island before and I am so grateful to be experiencing it with my daughter. We are having a great time! So many new adventures we wouldn’t be doing it if we weren’t brave enough to try!
I’ve done my Sunday Stories in my PJs and no makeup. In the past, no-makeup social media would have been unheard of. I still struggle with pictures and videos of myself, but I keep practicing and putting them out. They may not be perfect, but they are me!
Be Brave, Not Perfect
Even when I first started writing these blogs, I would struggle with how much I should share. I would ask myself if I should just keep it general. What will they think if I write this? Is that what is expected of me?
Now, I just try to share my story and make a difference. Not everything will resonate with each person. I know that. But by being brave and sharing who I am and what I have been through… it will help different people at different times with different things.
There was a time when I didn’t use my voice. Once I decided I wasn’t going to be silent anymore, there was no stopping me. I would say, “Just be brave Michelle.” Look at me now! It wasn’t easy getting here. I’ll be honest and admit I still have work to do yet. But I am not where I was and I’m more than good with that.
Progress, Not Perfection.
For a very long time, I felt stuck in so many ways. That is until the day I decided I deserved better and wanted more. My journey was not an overnight success. I had to put in the work in many areas of my life, but I saw progress over time and when I look back now, I’m amazed at how far I’ve come!
Thank you for joining me and motivating me to share my experiences with you. My purpose is to inspire you and help you take back control of your life. So that you can live your best life, personally and professionally. Remember, be brave, not perfect.
Live life on your terms,
Michelle