Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Aug/Sept 2017 Aspire Mag Full Issue | Page 86

an be c e f i l t a h t s T he truth i if we e l b a y o j n e e r so much mo erfection p f o a e d i release the -– life h t u r t e h t e and embrac npredictable , u is a chaotic adventure! because at least we know what to shoot for. It’s when we get so caught up with everything being just the way we dream that we feel frustrated. The truth is that life can be so much more enjoyable if we release the idea of perfection and embrace the truth -– life is a chaotic, unpredictable adventure! Five Ways to Release Your Attachment to Perfection allaham – Sheila C is now the background for my computer. It’s the crazy photo that I’m smiling at right now as I type these words. Let’s face it; perfection is overrated. Yes, my original intention was for all of us to be dressed in matching colors, standing tall, smiles from ear to ear to capture the image of our family on the beach. But in reality, perfection is not real. Rather, it is always elusive. Perfection is a fairy tale. And for those chasing after it, there will almost always be disappointment. Don’t get me wrong; I love the notion of perfection. I fantasize about my house looking Southern Living ready every day of the week. I dream about a perfectly manicured landscape, and the kids earning all As in school (and loving it). I dream about dancing like a professional whether it’s Argentine Tango or Slow Foxtrot. I daydream about finding a new BFF in the town where I’ve only been living for a year -- 1,200 miles from where I left my longtime BFFs behind. Perfection is a dream. It’s a navigational point that we will never reach, like the North Star. It’s good that we know what we’d like, 86 Releasing attachment to perfection is easier said than done. However, if you practice these tried and true tools, you’ll get there! 1 Ask yourself what’s more important, perfection or the person. When things aren’t perfect, it’s usually because someone has not lived up to your expectation, often times a friend, coworker, or family member. Ask yourself if the outcome has greater value than the relationship with the person? When we value our relationships most of all, we find ourselves more flexible in other ways. So my hubby wore a blue shirt! Did I get angry and yell at him? No. I smiled and shook my head. Besides, my favorite color for him to wear is blue, so I focused on that instead. 2 Celebrate closeness of the match. Okay, so things didn’t turn out exactly as you wanted, but you can acknowledge and celebrate the progress you made. I love our family pictures in spite of the fact that www.AspireMAG.net | August / September 2017