YoYo’s World

I have been venturing into the depths of perfectionism over the past few weeks, doing a bit of reading, but looking inwards more than anything. Being a perfectionist, as something I’ve mentioned before, is not necessarily a negative thing, but the non-action driven perfectionism that I exhibit is not very beneficial.

While on my journey to make perfection a strength rather than weakness, I realized something last night that has really expanded my knowledge and understanding of perfectionism and using it for your greater good. Last night I explored the idea of accountability and how it relates to perfectionism. For clarification sake, I use the term accountability to mean taking responsibility for your actions. I never realized until last night that these two ideas work hand-in-hand together and if used in unison, can be of benefit to you.

As a perfectionist, I was always afraid to start projects and try new things because I expected myself to do everything perfect during the first attempt. It’s safe to say that I don’t feel I am allowed to make mistakes; one of the beliefs I am trying to let go of. What is unique is accountability adds a little twist to all of this. When I do try something new and it doesn’t work out, I begin to stop trying and I pretend to myself that it doesn’t matter that I do well or not. I realized I do not take accountability for my failures.

I feel that taking accountability and responsibility for your actions is important step towards acceptance of reality and yourself. I think of it as that necessary step towards making you and your life much fuller. I never thought this way though. I used to think that accepting the present moment for what it was meant that I would be allowing what I didn’t want to happen become real to me. This is what I’d like to call denial and taking responsibility is at the forefront of all of this.

It was such a revelation for me to realize on my own that, 1) you are allowed to make mistakes and 2) when you do make mistakes, acknowledge them for what they are and take responsibility. If you do not feel you can make mistakes though, you will never be able to reach part to and acknowledge and make yourself accountable for them either. So you can’t really be one thing without the other ultimately.

Now I’m going through the process of not taking life so seriously and telling myself it’s okay to make mistakes. I noticed that when I begin to release my grip on being perfect, it is easier for me to take responsibility for my actions. When I begin to make myself accountable for myself, I notice that I change my behaviours more easily because I realize that if I want A, I have to do the work in order to achieve it.

*Pat on the back*

To wrap everything up, I’ve learned you enjoy life if you don’t take it so seriously. So take it easy and laugh a little more than you did yesterday. (Don’t those fake vector donuts look scrumptious?)

-YoYo

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