Do you ever feel like you’re striving for someone else’s goals? Our society tells us that all you need to be influential is the right picture and the right look. We are forever striving for someone else’s version of perfection. And we keep butting up against our reality, which is different than that “perfect” vision.
Then we feel less than. Then we feel FOMO (Fear of Missing Out, for those of you who are so secure you don’t know what this is). Then we go home and eat a bag of chips and a glass (or 4) of wine, because we don’t have what we think we want.
Why do we do this to ourselves? All we really need is to release someone else’s idea of perfect and work with what we’ve got! My favorite Sheryl Crow lyric is, “It’s not having what you want; it’s wanting what you’ve got.”
I was talking to one of our teams in the gym last week, and they were all wrapped up about not winning all their matches in the last tournament. They were striving for a goal they couldn’t make, because they played against teams who had a higher skill level.
Life is like that sometimes. Sometimes you just play a better team. And that’s ok. It’s no good beating yourself up for not being taller or more talented. What is the point? Doesn’t it make more sense to look around at what you DO have and work with that? The before-mentioned team has a great work ethic. They are kind to each other, and they get better with every game. Since when is that not valuable?
When I look in the mirror, I don’t see a smooth complexion; I see wrinkles and skin that isn’t 25 (or 45) and dewy. When I can accept that the wrinkles are part of me, then I can appreciate all the mirth and life that made those laugh lines. I can move forward with the wisdom that comes from living 56 years and leave behind the desire to be anything other than who I am.
Let’s all take a real look at what we have. Let’s accept that as good enough for now.
What do you have to be proud of? Write it down, look at the list and realize the YOU that exists right now is worthy of celebration. Let’s leave the perfect picture on the screen and celebrate the wonder of life as it is, right now. Send me your list of celebrations at terrif@findyourpride.org or write them on the Big Board!
XO
Terri
