Happiness Beats Perfection Rachel Macy Stafford, Mom of 2 Happiness Beats Perfection Never will I forget when I pushed myself to 110% output level despite the fact I practically had to kill myself to do it. Never will I forget how a whole day could be ruined when one little thing on my master plan went awry. Never will I forget when school projects had to be flawless … when kitchen counters had to be spotless … when the pursuit to get “one more thing” accomplished was endless. Sadly, I might still be living such an unattainable existence today had it not been for the impact this approach to life was having on my children. You see, all that pressure to be perfect couldn’t be contained inside my own lines. It often had the tendency to spill out and contaminate my children’s day, their perspective, their psyche, and their joyful little lives. When I realized the underlying message that my children were hearing, absorbing, and internalizing was “You are not good enough,” I vowed to change. And little by little, I started to let go of the pursuit of perfect. I began to let things BE as they were and stopped trying to control everything. I found myself saying phrases like: It was just a mistake; it’s okay. I’d like to hear what YOU think about it. I love to watch you play. I love the person you are—exactly as you are. And over time, they have become kids who embrace mismatched socks … disguise a mistake on their paper by transforming it into a heart … shrug and say, “It doesn’t have to be perfect.” But it’s their smiles that tell me all I need to know. Happiness beats perfection every single time – if I just let go long enough to let it. Dear God, Please show me that the many distractions in my life are superficial and use too much of my precious time. Please remind me my beloved children are here now, wanting me to listen to them, talk to them, and love them. Lord, please help me see what really matters. Amen.
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 19:56:55 +0000
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