(I am practicing at going beyond my comfort zone, so I’m experimenting with new ways of sharing ‘my voice.’ Please click play, and follow along!)

We all know the old saying, “Practice makes perfect.” While the intention of this sentiment is to motivate us to practice and not give up on something, it kinda sets us up for disappointment. Why? Well, this is how the dictionary describes Perfect: entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings. Do you know anyone or anything that can live up to this description?

I vote that we change this well-intentioned but out of date saying to: “Practice makes perfect sense!” Right? It makes sense that to be successful at anything, be it playing an instrument, singing, writing, our job or career, and yes, a relationship, it takes practice—even when you don’t feel like it. Especially when you don’t feel like it! This slight alteration also removes the daunting expectations of reaching perfect status.

When I was ten years old, I took piano lessons from Mrs. Ludwig, (yes, she looked as old school as her name). She had me practicing pieces to ‘perfection’ for a big piano recital with all of her students. I was petrified. I was the singer in the family, not the pianist and I wanted no part of it. I suffered through every minute of the recital waiting my turn, running the piece through my mind while all the other students were playing. The fear of my fingers doing the walking without any mistakes was overwhelming, and subsequently caused my mind to block out the rest of the day. The only other thing I remember is the little white Beethoven bust she gave us all when we finished, as a prize for our ‘perfect’ performance.

Do you feel the need to be perfect in all that you do?

“Perfectionism is a way we hide out in our own lives. And that shield, instead of protecting us, keeps us from being seen.” Brene Brown

Ironically, the antidote for perfectionism is practice.

Practicing builds our skills, our confidence, and our abilities to handle, tolerate and overcome whatever it is we are facing. It builds a foundation of strength for us that will hold us up when the going gets tough.

Just as practicing scales is crucial to playing piano pieces, as lifting weights are to building physical strength, doing the 5 following exercises repeatedly, will strengthen our core selves allowing us to have and to live a life that is perfect…for us.

Practice Prescription:

1-Practice accepting your Mistakes—don’t beat yourself up! Learn from them and move on!

2-Practice being Grateful—remember what you are grateful for every day

3-Practice being Vulnerable—shed your protective shield and let love fall in

4-Practice being Kind to yourself—talk to yourself as you would people you love

5-Practice being Brave—go after what you want and deserve!

Recommended Dosage: Practice each 1 time a day for the first week. Increase to 2 times a day for the next two weeks, and in week four, attempt each 3 times a day for ultimate results.

Side effects may include: Increase in self-confidence and over-all happiness, sore cheeks from smiling, healthy loving relationships, increase in income, decrease in worry, a spring in your step, spontaneously singing out loud, and a positive attitude.

Worth a try??

Please let me hear your comments, and what you think of including audio sometimes–(video coming soon!). It’s not perfect, but if we wait until something is ‘perfect’ to take action, then we’ll never do anything. We cannot allow perfectionism to keep us from trying, from doing, or from living mightily!

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