My gosh, just looking around every day and particularly online I can become overwhelmed with messages that seem to scream at me WHAT to value and WHY I should. Sometimes I want to shout back, “Do you think I don’t have a brain??” In reality, I know it’s not my brain they are targeting. It’s my emotions. Our emotions. They are creating a call to action for us to respond because we “think” we have a deficit and need their solution. Scarcity mindset sells because we don’t like to feel behind or left out or not enough. So it’s often a short jump over to problem solving and cha-ching, we jump on board so we don’t have to face those feeling any longer. (However, there may be other feelings after a bit that we get to deal with. 😉)
Now let’s dig a little deeper. What drives our assessment of value? What do we base it on? Obviously things like quality or need or desire come to mind. But let’s take a step further. What drives us as we consider a decision for a call to action within ourselves? Once again, quality or need or desire come to mind. And that’s where the scarcity mindset can once again kick in. Sometimes, and for some people (I may or may not be a member of the club) we place top value on the desire or expectation of the need for Perfect. We may focus that desire or expectation towards ourselves (Hmmm…) or others, and though… WHY???
Is Perfect a real thing? No, except for moments in time. Is it part of our dream world? Very likely possibly maybe! So this begs the question, Why do we chase it? Some of you may stop reading at this point because you can’t relate and are thinking, “Whaaaat???” But for those of us who do or have peeps who do, leaning into the question of “Why?” can reveal insights, which I call Ah-ha moments.
The reasons for chasing Perfect can stem from many things like fear of: failure, rejection, hurt, limiting beliefs. Or feeling the need to: self-protect, measure up, be the Best, keep up the façade. But doesn’t that all go back to those thoughts and emotions of scarcity? Why do we let our responses be birthed from such a desolate place?
The good new is, and listen to me (I’m talking to myself too), You are NOT perfect! Nor shall you ever be. Nor are we required to be. Now re-read and let it soak in… aaahhh!
So, OK, we probably really already know that, yet we can jump right on the “Toil & Struggle Bus” chasing Perfect to avoid those very same emotions I mentioned at the beginning; feeling behind, left out, not enough. From my personal experience, from which I hope I’ve gained some wisdom, the more we actively seek Perfect, the more we feel behind, left out, not enough, because we don’t go forward. We get stuck. Analysis paralysis sets in. Or maybe disappointment and shame and we dig our hole a little deeper. I am learning it is OK to Go then Grow. It’s on-the-job-training for this journey of life. Will it be perfect? Not a chance. Does it need to be? Nope. Do you really think others are requiring that of you? No, and if they are it may be time to re-evaluate that relationship.
We all have something calling our heart. God placed it within our identity and it resides there even if covered up or forgotten. His grace is abundant to reveal it to us and we are not called to a mindset of scarcity or fear. The allure of Perfect can distract us from the great beauty found in the bravery of “not-perfect”, real, authentic. That’s where the emotion of scarcity and fear are replaced with hope and inspiration and connection. So let’s embrace it. Whatever is calling your heart, Get Started! It won’t be perfect so stop thinking it should be. This truth gives me permission for this blog. For moving forward even though I have more questions than answers. For unleashing my voice and helping others do the same. For sharing my Real with you. For dreaming bigger. And whatever good may result, I will give Him praise and declare His works.
Unleashing Voices to Speak Life 