How Perfectionism Is Keeping You Stuck
Perfectionism is something that plagues the most well-intended people. *hand raised* But it can also sabotage those well intended efforts and keep you stuck.
Perfectionism is the refusal to accept any standard short of perfection.
Doesn't that sound great? Doesn't that sound like a value that we all should hold near and dear in our life?
I don't know about you, but when I read the word "perfectionism", I hear the word "excellence".
Excellence is a quality of being outstanding or extremely good.
Can you see how these two words are not the same, yet we intertwine their meaning and thus get really hung up on our perfectionist tendencies?
Perfect means as good as it possibly can be. Again, a very good notion, but where does our ship start to drift off course?
The last three words, "possibly can be", is what throws us off.
If for example, you want to organize your home, you may order a book (or two) and read up on organizing philosophies along with tips and tricks. You research the best bins and labels for the garage, the best hangers for the closet, and the best drawer organizers for the kitchen.
You buy a few of these items and you get started. Then you get distracted with life so the project gets put on hold. Some available time comes around and you start again, a load or two is donated to the local charity, stuff does in the drawer and you pull out the drawer organizers.
But what is this? They don't fit the drawer. *ohmygoodness!* Who even knows where the receipt is so you can return them and get the correct size. Life comes up again and you get distracted.
Now it's been almost six months since you started your organizing journey, and barely a progress has been made. *hands up in the air*
"I give up."
Perfectionism can keep us stuck in disorganization because are seeking the "right" way to organize.
If I can't do it right, then why bother?
I hear that a lot. I've even heard myself say it a time or twelve.
How about approaching it differently; instead of looking for the right way and doing all that research in advance, what if you just start. All by yourself in one room.
You sort, you let go, you keep, you move things around (this goes in the kitchen, that goes in the guest room), then you stop and move to another room. Repeat process.
Sort, let go, keep, move things around, stop and move on.
You do this until you've sorted your entire house then you return to the original room. NOW what do you need in THIS room to make it more efficient.
(psst: the goal of organization is to make life easier by way of efficiently storing and using your stuff)
You take a few measurements, you head to the store and buy a few things, you come home and VOILA it is organized!
Does this sound too simple? I hope so, because truthfully, organizing is just this simple! Hooray!
The hurdle is life and time. We say yes to everyone and everything, we expand to fill our calendars and our week, we are trying to stay busy. And we are succeeding.
Audit your calendar and extend a few no's in the coming weeks. Carve out time because getting organized is a priority to you! (it is right?)
Another option is working with a coach, like myself. Together we are able to fast track the progress while busting down the inner hurdles that are keeping you in disorganization.