The Magical Art of Releasing Perfectionism
So when I’m in a place in my schedule when I have a LOT going on — whether it’s a run-up to a launch, or a series of events, or finishing a book — I read fantasy novels in my free time. There’s something about reading a novel that takes my head out of the game so completely that it allows me to rest and then jump right back in.
This week I’m leading another SOLD-OUT Revenue Breakthrough Intensive, plus I’m creating some content for Fall launches — and I’m knee deep into a YA fantasy novel based in Nigeria, called Akata Warrior.
In this magical world, the things that are “wrong” with you or that you “struggle” with turn out to lead to your magical strengths. For example, the main character, Sunny, is teased because she is albino — but she is also able to be invisible and travel between worlds. Her best friend Orlu is dyslexic and sees the letters backwards and upside down. And he can also undo “bad Juju” or “bad” magic spells by seeing their workings and unraveling them. Her mentor, Sweet Cream has scoliosis, a large C Curve in her back — and she can also shapeshift into other forms.
It got me started thinking about how important it is that we all think this way about ourselves.
When I was growing up, I was super quiet. I had a deep connection to animals and I worked at the Cincinnati Zoo through High School. I preferred to speak to animals. Often I felt left out and awkward — in elementary school the other kids teased and tormented me. I very much lived in my own world.
I carried this shyness into Revenue Breakthrough when I started it in 2010. I was terrified to be on stages. But, over time I learned to use the same skills that kept me quiet and talking to animals to read a room and the people in it. Today, my clients love the fact that we don’t have to “talk” in order for me to help them. I just know things.
We live in a world now where we are being asked to be visible all the time — on Zoom, on videos, on lives, on interviews. For so many of us — it’s really hitting against our desire to be perfect, to hide our faults.
But what if we followed the world of Akata Warrior? What if it was our weaknesses and imperfections that taught us about strengths?
Then we could show up fully — in our awkwardness, in our imperfect bodies, in our rambling words — knowing that if we just were able to be with them — our magical gifts would emerge.
I for one am going to choose to live in this reality.
One where I’m not asked to be perfect, but where I befriend my imperfections and find the gifts in them. I may not be able to be invisible or change forms. But I think loving myself, finding joy in being seen, and serving others all over the world are some pretty powerful gifts.
Will you join me?
What are your imperfections, struggles, physical concerns?
What is the magic that has come from them?
It’s time to stop hiding, comparing ourselves to models of perfection and letting our critical voices go wild. Let’s do it together.
PS: I’m doing an amazing training next week on this very topic — would love to see you there:
How to Get Noticed Online: 3 Steps to Inspire Participants to Say, “I Want to Work with HER!” (and stop over-perfecting and hyper-criticizing yourself) Register Here
