I actually love to write.
However, I’m terrified of getting it wrong.
As a 3 on the Enneagram, I tend to only do things where I know I can achieve, and by achieve, I mean win.
The problem is, since I last updated this blog, my marketing business has grown to include clients of which are some of the most successful bloggers in their own niches. From Michael Hyatt, Gabby Bernstein and Ruth Soukup, to name a few, these titans are killing it on the blogging front.
So, naturally, when I think of achieving at writing, I compare myself to these titans and think, Why even try?
Recently, I was talking to my friend and client, Ruth Soukup. She runs a very successful blog over at LivingWellSpendingLess.com. We got on the topic of writing and I told her about my writing insecurities and how they plagued my desire to actually create meaningful content. She said plain and clear, “Well, that’s a problem.” I agreed. I’ve been agreeing with that problem all my life.
Then she challenged me.
During the month of April, write 500 words every single day. I was intrigued and took to the challenge.
Immediately, I thought of this blog as the outlet, but writing here is a trigger for my perfectionism and would make it really easy for the internal resistance to rare it’s ugly head and ultimately, sabotage the challenge. So I opted against writing here and took to writing in my favorite journal app, Day One.
Over the course of the next 7 days of writing, I was floored at how helpful the writing process had been in my day-to-day. Topics, questions and thoughts that I had yet to flush out were all of a sudden given the space and time to be thought through.
I began to think differently. I began to think well about business, relationships, parenting, love, etc.
I couldn’t believe the clarity I had…and I couldn’t believe how the lack of clarity was impacting the people I worked with every day. Perhaps I’ll expand on this later, but for now, let me just say, I now realize how much time and money I’ve wasted over the years. Because I used the excuse of busyness to not take the time to flush out my thoughts, I wasted a bunch of my time, and other peoples time too.
What a waste.
No more.
I’m still writing, now 11 days in and I’m loving it. I get excited to get up and write because I love the clarity I’m achieving by doing so.
Back to perfectionism.
Perfectionism tells me that I have to keep doing this or I fail.
Perfectionism tells me that, like other bursts of enthusiasm, this too will flail and I’ll stop short of my goals.
I’m starting to realize that perfectionism is a gateway drug to empowering our limiting beliefs.
When I talked about the reasons why I didn’t write and how this stood in the way of me accomplishing my goals, Ruth offered this Chinese proverb:
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
The reality is, I will never accomplish my big goals and dreams until I start doing something today.
Perfectionism will feed the resistance and rob you of the clarity, confidence and the grit you need to accomplish big things.
So, what big goals are you ignoring because you don’t think you’re good enough?
What limiting beliefs are you allowing to derail your successes?
My challenge to you is to say no to the perfectionism and do one thing you can do today that moves you closer to your goal.
I’ll go first. Here are the things that I’ve done this week, that I haven’t done in a long time:
- Ran
- Journaled daily
- Write 500+ words
- Started a diet experiment to help me get closer to my physique goals.
This isn’t to brag, but to a chance to celebrate moving forward in areas where I’ve used excuses not to.
What are you going to do today?
