Week 317
Positive post Sunday, March 26, 2023- Week 317.
As I do each week when deciding on a topic to write about, this week I exercised 2 of my 5 God-given senses, sight and hearing, and through prayer and reflection, the focus of this week’s PPS was born.
While observing and listening to a few people talking during the week, I heard one of them say, “progression not perfection”. Being a perfectionist in many ways myself, including when I write these posts😊, this caught my attention and I decided to explore the concept.
Author Bill Phillips, who wrote the book “Body For Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength”, along with Mike D’Orso, is credited with the quote, “Focus on progress, not perfection.” His focus on mental and physical strength, reminded me of the “Triangle of Life”; Faith, Family and Fitness, and specifically, Fitness and the importance of progressing our mental and physical fitness, especially in this busy and complex world we live in. (See PPSs for weeks 46 on December 31, 2017, 47 on January 7, 2018, 48 on January 14, 2018 and 98 on December 30, 2018 for more details on the Triangle of Life).
Learning who coined the phrase, “Focus on progress, not perfection” was informative, and the reminder on the importance of mental and physical health relevant and timely. However, throughout the week, I continued to reflect more deeply on the statement, “progression not perfection”, which caused me some consternation. On one hand, I value the importance of continuous improvement and progress rather than getting crippled by a pursuit of perfection, but on the other hand, I also see striving for perfection as creating capacity for innovation and greater achievement. Perhaps they aren’t mutually exclusive, as sustained progression can create a path to perfection. This may just be this perfectionist’s point of view, or the Engineer in me focusing on the importance of precision and accuracy.
Now that I got that off my chest, I thought I would share a few articles I found with tips and strategies for those whose quest for perfection may be hindering their ability to achieve their goals or to just get things done. I found these simple and practical tips and strategies helpful and a good reminder of the importance of recognizing and appreciating the progress we make in our daily lives, and the impact this can have on our mental and physical health.
10 Ways to Focus on Progress, Not Perfection — Basics by Becca
How To Strive For Progress Not Perfection – 7 Simple Strategies (saturdaygift.com)
How do you strive for continuous improvement and progress in your personal and professional life?
How do you recognize and celebrate the progress you make toward your goals?