You Don't Need To Be Perfect!
Three signs the lesson you’re not learning is…don’t try to be so perfect!
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It was odd that for me it happened during the last stretch of teacher training for Deepak’s PERFECT Health programme.
Let me explain.
It’s February 16, 2015 and I’m at the Chopra Centre in California – my first solo trip abroad!
It’s certification week. I’ve made it! I have a folder so rammed with lesson plans and notes it needs its own baggage allowance. (Yeah, this was pre-digital days and you had to attend – with a body and everything!)
Anyway… I’m ready.
Not so fast. Suddenly I’m a test case for imbalance.
Here’s what happens.
- My mind starts to race
- My heart is pounding
- I’m anxious
- I’m worried
- I can’t sleep
- My mouth runs away with my words as fast as my thoughts leave my head
- I can’t retain stuff – information pops in and out.
On reflection I can now see this anxiety and fear was all about the doubt and worry I had that I was ready, that I’d done enough, that I was enough.
And what became a symbol for this feeling was that over-filled binder I’d hauled half-way across the planet combined with my teacher’s New Jersey force, calling me to ‘lose the notes Josie’.
And if I didn’t quite get the message to stop trying to be perfect, just to be sure, that folder of perfectly written lesson plans, so painstakingly pre-prepared, fell to pieces mid-course.
It Isn’t Easy
Now don’t get me wrong, not trying to be perfect is a hard lesson for me to learn. Like most of us, I’ve been conditioned to look for validation of my worth from the outside.
And even though some days I know I rock, on other days that’s somehow not good enough until someone tells me I rock – which let’s be honest (might never happen!)
And that’s why Yoga works. It keeps us working on our connection to our self – the self that knows we rock! And perfect is not a thing.
It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to work on your emotional foundation and get stronger – it takes time to unravel years of programming. And it’s not usually one and done! As those seeds of doubt can spring from no-where and you’re judging yourself once more.
But you can do it. With practice you get resilient.
When you access yoga and meditation on a deep level, and commit to your Self daily, you start to open to seeing the clues that will guide behaviour and stop you from having to repeat lessons you’re not learning.
Here are 3 signs you might not be learning the lesson of ‘don’t try to be so perfect’.
Sign 1: Racing Mind and Anxiety
If you find your mind racing and your heart pounding with anxiety, it may be a sign that you are trying to be perfect. You may feel worried about not being prepared enough or doing everything perfectly, leading to excessive stress and anxiety. To overcome this, try to practice meditation, which can help you focus on the present moment and reduce stress.
Sign 2: Inability to Sleep and Remember Information
If you are having trouble sleeping and retaining information, it could be a sign that you are striving for perfection. You may be spending too much time worrying about getting everything right, which can lead to sleepless nights and difficulty retaining information. To overcome this, practice relaxation techniques before bedtime, such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, and break down tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
Sign 3: Need for External Validation
If you find yourself constantly seeking validation from others, it may be a sign that you are trying to be perfect. You may believe that you need external validation to feel good about yourself, leading to a constant need for approval from others. To overcome this, try to focus on your own internal validation and self-worth. Practice positive self-talk and acknowledge your own accomplishments, rather than relying solely on external validation.
Trying to be perfect can lead to excessive stress, anxiety, and a constant need for external validation – which can be disastrous for your health.
By recognising these as signs, you can take steps to overcome any imbalance and tip the scales of health and wellbeing in your favour.
Practice mindfulness meditation, relaxation techniques, and positive self-talk to shift your focus from perfection to self-improvement.
If you want help to get started. We’ve got you covered.
Access our FREE Pre-Yoga Class Starter Kit |No More Nerves | Find Confidence From Day 1.
In it we have some must-have starter tools to overcome first time nerves and set you up for your first in person studio experience.
It’s packed tight with audio and video trainings and worksheets that will help you:
- Discover if yoga really is for you. (You don’t know what you don’t know – so go see).
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- Get to know your body better.
- Take ownership of your own self, health and happiness.
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