We’re halfway through the year (how did that happen?). If you’re anything like me, your shiny new year’s resolutions now feel like a distant mirage in the rear view mirror of your life. So I’m starting a new thing…half-year’s resolutions.
January is idealistic. July is realistic.
January is confetti. July is grit.
January is all-or-nothing. July is do-what-you-can.
I’m choosing one and only one mid-year resolution and it’s this: The Discipline of Doing It Imperfectly. That’s a fancy name for not letting fear stop me. I recently became aware of a tendency I have to procrastinate until I can get things just right. But as the saying goes, “Done is better than perfect.”
So I’m giving myself permission to go for it when I’m at 90% rather than 110%. For example, I recently sent out a survey that I quickly put together asking you to tell me your biggest challenge as an introvert or extrovert. (I want to know this for a project I’m working on for you so that what I create will be helpful to you and others.)
Normally I would have tried to make this survey absolutely perfect, agonized over it for weeks and then never sent it because I’d convinced myself it wasn’t good enough. But this time I just hit “send.” I would have been thrilled to hear from 100 of you…so far almost 2,000 of you have responded! What?! (And thank you!!)
{my graphics are free goodies for you}
One of my favorite quotes of all time is this one by Jill Churchill: “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.”
I think that’s true of everything we do.
There’s no way to be a perfect friend, wife, second cousin but there’s a million ways to be a good one.
There’s no way to be a perfect writer, painter, birthday cake maker but there’s a million ways to be a good one.
There’s no way to be a perfect human but there’s a million, zillion ways to be a good one.
This is the miracle we live every day because of Jesus: We can do our best and know that grace will cover the rest.
I read once that when folks are asked at the end of their lives about their deepest regrets, they talk most about what they didn’t do. I don’t want that to be true. So let’s be brave on this day halfway through the year. Let’s refuse to listen to the sneaky voice of fear. Let’s chase perfectionism out like a possum who snuck in through the cat door when we weren’t looking.
We still have half a year. I plan to live it imperfectly.
Who’s with me?
XOXO
Holley Gerth
P.S. The Do What You Can Plan is a 21-day challenge that will help you live purposefully, effectively and imperfectly. And it’s half the price of a latte. Get the ebook now. (This post includes affiliate links.)
P.P.S. If you live near Tulsa, I’d love to see you this Monday! (For more info on the event, how to watch part of it live, or the new gift book and journal pictured, click here.)
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