Progress not perfection
“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.” Margaret Atwood
My personal theme for May is, Progress not Perfection. There are some areas of my life where this is easier to embrace than others. A hunger for perfection can stop us in our tracks. It can leave us in limbo or cause us to quit before we really get started.
I had a friend that decided he wanted to do P90X. Have you heard of it? This was about ten years ago so I’m not sure it is still around? My understanding is it was a set of exercise classes delivered via DVD. This was pre-pandemic before online classes became a norm.
The idea was that the workouts could be done from home. They were intense and you needed a few things to do them. I can’t remember specifically so let’s just say, a band, some weights, a yoga mat, and something else.
My friend was attracted to the results he saw in some other friends. He was excited to get started but refused to begin until he had ALL of the things (see above). So. . .weeks went by. First, he needed the band. Got the band. Now he wouldn’t start until he had the weights, you get the picture. When he finally did get started it was hard and he stopped after a few days. I couldn’t help but wonder if he ran out of steam while he gathered all of the things? What if he had done the squats without the bands and weights while he had the fire of desire to begin?
How about an example that isn’t so body oriented? Art! I heard Morgan Harper Nichols talking this morning about using crayons to build the habit of creating visual art. She said, “don’t get fancy,” it is just about showing up and you might be hesitant to use the expensive markers or paints. I’m not discouraging anyone from buying fancy tools for the thing they desire, sometimes that is the permission that gets you grooving. Know yourself and don’t be afraid to experiment. The intention is to lose the perfection and keep the practice.
Is there something that you desire to practice but you’re not willing to start until you have the perfect tool or your life set up just so? What is one small step you could take in the direction of your desire?
This month in my Friday classes we’ll use the goddess Parvati for inspiration. She came up last month as she is Ganesh’s mama. She is also the goddess of yoga practice and practice, in general. She is the *Shakti* that takes your desire and turns it into action in the form of practice.
Keep practicing!
Love,
Angela