When Good Enough is Good Enough

Whether you identify as a mentally healthy “type A” human, an anxious perfectionist, are diagnosed with clinical OCD, or fall anywhere in between, the constant need to be perfect can be overwhelming.

You always hear that “it’s okay, as long as you’re trying your best!”

And that’s a great sentiment in theory but...

Where do we draw the line between trying our best and the compulsive pursuit of perfection?

Sometimes trying our absolute hardest comes at a detriment to ourselves.

Like working on that project for 12 hours straight after you have worked on it every day for a week.

Putting in a good number of uninterrupted hours is a great thing to strive for and will most likely reflect in the project.

However, when it takes over your life and you forget to eat and sleep: we’ve moved into problematic territory.

This same voice that asks if the project is good enough might ask:

Am I the best I can be?

Am I my happiest?

Am I my most charitable?

Smartest?

Safest?

Hardest working version of myself?

On and on...

And the answer? No.

Or at least, probably not.

But enough is good enough. Safe, smart, happy, healthy, and trying hard enough is good enough.

While the voice in your head will try to tell you different, we can't be the 'most' of everything, no matter how many behaviors or compulsions we use.

So enough is enough.

Does this mean we shouldn’t try to grow into better people? Of course not.

But maybe we can be gentle about it.

And acknowledge that pursuing perfection is probably holding us back from overall growth.

The truth of the matter is: perfection is impossible. And in this moment, you are okay just as you are.

The world does not need perfection from you.

Again,

The world does not need perfection from you.

We need you to show up: anxious, messy, and imperfect.

That’s where life and growth happens.

And in those moments,

good enough is more than good enough.

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Note:

If you feel like you are struggling with these things to a degree that is affecting your life, it may be time to see a mental health professional, if you are not already!

If you are in crisis, call 911, the Suicide Hotline (1-800-273-8255), or text Crisis Text Line (text ‘Help’ to 741-741).

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Disclaimer:

This blog is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute as therapy.

#imperfectlyperfect #perfectionist #goodenoughisgoodenough