Part of the burden of being perfectionists is that we want to do things the Right Way. We know how tasks should be done: laboriously, thoroughly and painstakingly well. We live with the belief that if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing right....and it really creates a problem when we don't have the time or energy to complete the job in the way our conscience dictates.
Sometimes, the result is simply inner angst. Like when we see the grout in the shower every morning as we are rushing to get ready for the day. The despair over the mold settles on us like a heavy cloud. We know in our hearts that if we were really on top of things, our tiles would shine like glass. But we move on through our day, feeling like failures.
Sometimes, the result is a family that lives in fear of Dictator Mom, whose standards are so high that no one has a moment to rest. No job is ever good enough for her inspection and she's ready with a list of consequences for falling down on the job. This is not the problem in our family, but you might be familiar with it.
Mostly, the problem that arises from our perfectionist tendencies is procrastination. Since we don't have time to completely dismantle the chandelier to clean each prism, we don't even bother to dust it at all. And because we know it will take 4 hours to clean the refrigerator properly, we let the food morph into hideous aliens for weeks on end. The house is such a disaster that we just sit on the couch, watching Dancing with the Stars, and wishing the mess would just go away.
Today's Small Thing is to do a Half-Way job.
- For example, Instead of cleaning out the entire refrigerator, just wipe out the shelves in the door.
- Rather than clean the bathroom from top to bottom, just work on the sink and counter...and leave the potty for another day.
- How about vacuuming one room, rather than the whole house?
- Put the papers away that are on the desk, but don't worry about the ones on the counter.
- Sweep the floor, but don't mop it.
I think you get the idea. Instead of feeling like a failure for not doing a job completely, thoroughly and with much perspiration, enjoy the satisfaction of doing SOMETHING that gets you moving toward Sanctuary. A small step is better and no step at all.
POINTS: 40 for a Half-Way job
What will you do today??
