Free Stamp + Perfect is the Enemy of Good

Monday, February 24, 2020

*Colouring above from my Tasty Treats Pencils Class at www.kitandclowder.com

One thing I really struggle with, and am working on, is not feeling good enough. For each of us, that can mean something different, and it can translate into our colouring and willingness to learn. I thought I'd share a snippet from an article I read about what to do when you feel not good enough in the hopes it might help a little today:

"Focus on progress rather than perfection and on how far you’ve come rather than how far you have left to go. One of the biggest causes of self-loathing is the hell-bent need to 'get it right.' We strive for perfection and success, and when we fall short, we feel less than and worthless. What we don’t seem to realize is that working toward our goals and being willing to put ourselves out there are accomplishments within themselves, regardless of how many times we fail.Instead of berating yourself for messing up and stumbling backward, give yourself a pat on the back for trying, making progress, and coming as far as you have."

I think this is something we can all struggle with, and it's important to remember no matter what it is you are trying to learn in life, that we don't learn by being perfect. Needing perfection can stop us from taking that next step, can make us feel we are failing because we aren't reaching the high standard we have set for ourselves. We need to remember that we learn by being brave, by making mistakes, and knowing it's ok because they mean we have just stepped forward.

A mistake is a lesson - when you feel frustration rise up, stop yourself, say what it is, and think about what you've learned by making it and how it is helped you grow. If you do this every time you make a mistake then you have succeeded - it is growth and learning that is important, not perfection. We also learn by asking for help. We learn by allowing ourselves to start, even when we feel scared or overwhelmed. We learn by accepting ourselves for where we are right now, and knowing that is exactly where we need to be today.

This week give yourself the chance to learn by remembering these things and jumping in, not because the colouring is necessarily the most important, but because *you* are

When things are hard, don't change the activity, let's look at changing the attitude so we can get the most enjoyment from life and be our best selves. We are all by your side on those days when you don't feel enough because, trust me, you so truly are

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While you are here too, make sure you check out this week's free stamps over in our Kit and Clowder Facebook Community. Every week we feature different stamp and craft companies and give out freebies and giveaways :D You can find these any time via the Giveaways tab on our website. Here's a special freebie from Lee Holland Illustrations for you this week!