Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to create perfection?

This week, we’ll dive into the teachings of Alan Cohen. And as we step into this week, he reminds us that we don’t need to have all of the clarity in order to take the next step. And also, I couldn’t resist adding Rumi’s teaching on the same subject as well –

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” – Alan Cohen

“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” – Rumi

Has the lack of perfect conditions been holding you back from creating? Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to create perfection? Are you paralyzed by the pressure to create something perfect? 

You’re not alone. The quest for flawlessness can be a major roadblock to progress, especially in the realm of personal growth and creative endeavors.

Having clarity before we take action is often the wise thing to do, however we don’t need absolute clarity before taking small steps. In fact, trying out small imperfect steps in different directions is often exactly what we need in order to become clear about which path to follow.

“Be happy with what you have. Be excited about what you want.” – Alan Cohen

“Life has meaning only if you do what is meaningful to you.” – Alan Cohen

“Joy is the wild card of life; it supersedes every other formula for success. If you can find a way to create joy, you can rise beyond all external factors. If you can play at whatever you are doing, you are the master of your life.” – Alan Cohen

Shift perspective on how you create by asking yourself these three questions:

1. Am I excited about what I’m creating? Passion is the fuel that propels us forward. If the project you’re contemplating doesn’t spark a flicker of excitement, it might be time to change what you’re doing, or change how you approach what you’re doing.
2. Can I be happy with what I have, and also excited about what I’m creating? Too often we’re desperately trying to create something new because we’re deeply unhappy with where we are, only to find that un-happiness always follows us when it is our driving force.
3. How can I embrace the feeling of playing while I create? Remember the joy of childhood, when creating was an act of pure exploration? Reclaim that playful spirit! Approach your project with a sense of curiosity and experimentation. Allow yourself to make mistakes, learn from them, and enjoy the process.

Here’s the key takeaway: When we change the way we look at things, then the things we look at change. When we shift our perspective, the world around us transforms. Instead of viewing every task as a monumental challenge, we can find ways to inject playfulness, meaning, and excitement into the process. Sometimes it takes only a small shift in perspective to realize we can have a lot more fun doing the things we are already doing.

Join us for today’s meditation journey to create a picture of what you want your week to be.

– pierre –

Today’s LIVE meditation is: Let’s jumpstart this week!