26 days — 26 learnings: Part nine of looking back & looking beyond.
My word for today is:
Ideal
When reviewing an entire year, one is compelled to do the math and ask: So how was the year? Bottom line; was it good, was it bad, was it ok? How do the parts sum up?
My first response was a loud: It was good! Very good! Then a little nagging voice raised his head and asked: Was it ideal though? Or more importantly: Did you give it all you had? What did you accomplish?
Being truly honest with oneself is good; There are things I could’ve done better.
I’ve taken a lot of time this year. Even though I wrote my FSD and started a new business, I took life pretty easy. There’s a fine line between taking the time one needs and being too easy on oneself.
Most people need to be more gentle with themselves. They do. However, I’m not one of those. I’m very kind to myself. Very gentle. Most of the time that works perfectly fine. It’s nice to have someone that’s nice to you.
But sometimes one must kick oneself in the butt. Raise the standard. Don’t say: Oh, that’s good! No, it’s not. You can do better than that! Go do it!
I could’ve done just a little more of that.
As I write down these words, the gentle me says “Psssst, why do you say that? We don’t need inner critics.”
Well, not a nagging one, let’s be clear! But one that spits just a bit of fire; not enough to burn you but enough to spark you.
Which takes me to my ninth learning:
No one ever lives up to their ideal.
My take away for 2018: Don’t strive for perfection. It does not exist. Strive to be better than you were yesterday. Then all is good.
