I want to learn how to…
… value what i’m gaining over what i’ve lost
… let things be easy
… share an imperfect project without devaluing it
… manage my email
… settle for something rather than all or nothing
… expect more from others
… ask for and receive support/delegate
… be more extroverted
… quiet the inner chatter of jealousy
… be more proactive before trips
… make beautiful collages/layouts in photoshop
… use my time more efficiently
… set-up dummy proof project management systems
… make new friendships
… simplify my life—be more intentional about what I let into my life/keep in my life
… recognize denial and procrastination before panic sets in
… nurture myself and increase my self-compassion
… stop apologizing all the time
… say no more than i say yes
… magnify my inner voice
… let go of guilt
… act without perfection as my goal
… move forward with grace
… balance my fears with excitement
I want to learn to continually recognize that my journey is always a work in progress.
photo: elle decor (of lee radziwill in her paris apartment)
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Good Morning! After reading your post this morning, I decided I should share a quote with you. Forgive me if it is one that I actually took from something that you posted in the past, but I still feel it would be encouraging to you today.
“The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and healthy. The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic and a terrible waste of time.” Edwin Bliss
This quote has really changed my view and value of my efforts. When I think about it, what I really want to achieve in life is excellence and excellence comes in many different forms. This has freed me up immensely!.
Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. Your blog posts almost always touch a chord within me and I’m so thankful for what you do! Keep up the good work!
Stephanie (If you somehow get two very similar posts from me, it is because I tried to write this already and sent it off into neverland when I submitted it. Sorry if there is a duplicate)
Wow, Stephanie–that quote is wonderful. It’s going up on my inspiration board—worth reading daily! I may make it the next quote in the Quoted series!
“The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and healthy. The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic and a terrible waste of time.” Edwin Bliss
Your gratitude for sharing my life and my vulnerability on this blog means the world to me. It’s hard to share so much and not really know if it’s resonating with others.
Oh gosh. I love this. So feel you on so many of these things. I think, dear, that we are kindred spirits.
We are definitely kindred spirits :).
Man, I can agree with almost all of these! Being more comfortable with saying “no”, moving forward with grace, to stop apologizing. The biggest one for me is learning to live more simply. Tired of over-complicating, cluttering, and hoarding. :) Thanks for writing this Carolyn!
I was just thinking the same thing, Mike. I really want to focus on simplifying my life. If you haven’t read, Throw Out Fifty Things, I highly highly recommend it. It’s much more than the name suggests.
Ditto! May I borrow this list because I think I need to learn all of the aforementioned items?
i think we need to use it as a life syllabus! all the things we want to learn :)
That is is just, WOW!! There are many things I’d like to learn too, like acting without perfection as my goal. I am a perfectionist and I tend to want everything I do to be nothing but perfect. I will have to lessen on that..
Thank you so much, Milicent! I think a lot of us struggle with perfection being our goal. Letting go of that mindset is TOUGH.
“I want to learn to continually recognize that my journey is always a work in progress.” — I do, too!
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