Overcoming Perfection

I have never been a fan of perfection as the ultimate ideal or as a goal. This is not to say that doing one’s best can’t get you close to the perception. I recall telling people, “practice doesn’t make you perfect, just better.”

Does the idea of perfection prevent you from the attempt? The adage, “If you can’t do something well (or right), why do it at all?” comes to mind. I find this to be off the mark somehow. So what if we redefine the word?

Perfection has imperfectness. It is all part of the balance. Imagine everything being perfect in every detail. Can you?

When I was learning some new techniques in a martial art style from a peer whom I didn’t see that often, I mentioned my concern about doing something wrong. His response was, “Just do it. We can fix the little things later, but at least you are doing something.” To me, that’s the key; regardless of my skill level, as long as I am doing it, I am getting better at it. Will I be perfect every time? No. Will there be moments when I nail it? Yes.

The experience helps us grow and define who we are, helps us learn and understand along with broadening the view.

What is something you are willing to try regardless of outcome?

Break Through

When I started training in the martial arts, I was overweight and so out of shape I was consistently teased that the smelling salts were on hand.

I can honestly say that there were a few occasions when, while kneeling in a corner trying to catch my breath, I thought about throwing in the towel, but I kept getting up for more.

One aspect of the training that I could not wrap my brain around was a stick drill that involved weaving them as well as mirroring the movement on both sides of the body. For some reason, I had a huge block in my head on this drill.

One day after struggling with it for literally a couple months, a fellow student took me under his wing to help me get it. He broke down the movements step-by-step on one side until I got those. Then we did it on the opposite side until I was flowing through the movements. By the end of the class I had it.

After that, whenever I have a challenging moment, I break it down “by the numbers,” as we used to say. Now when I hit that barrier, I step back and approach the problem or task methodically until I have it completed.

As for that stick drill, I literally do it in my sleep.

What is something you once found difficult but now consider second nature?

Decisions, decisions...

When you walk up to any counter to order food or a drink, it is possible to become overwhelmed with the number choices and the options associated with them. A lot of us know what we want, but when given too many options, we freeze. For many, we default to what we know we like from past experiences.

I have experienced this myself and witnessed it with many friends. With so many options, I generally find something I have had before. To break this cycle, I now stand back and look at all the options in front of me to really take it all in. That risk of trying something entirely fresh invigorates me.

How and where can you try something new?

Who wants coffee now?

Three Sheets to the Wind

Maintaining your sight on the goal can be difficult, especially in uncharted waters with a squall coming on. The lines can come loose on the sail and leave it flapping in the breeze leaving you meandering on the whim of wind and tide.

This is a moment of action to retie the ropes, make a course correction and venture on.

What are some ways you get back on track?

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!) | Video on TED.com

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!) | Video on TED.com

Look in the mirror!!

Fork it

Okay. You have reached a point in your life and need to make a decision. It could be about anything: career, relationships, health and fitness. Is it weighing you down, holding you back? Welcome to the proverbial fork in the road.

Which way to turn could be on a sign right in front of you, or your gut is nagging at you to go one way while your brain thinks it is the opposite.

The decision on which direction is often difficult, and I am here to help you choose the path you truly deserve.

It may mean going off road.

A bit of history

My path to becoming a life coach started when I delved deeper into the study of martial arts.
I was relatively fresh out of college, recently single and my weight was pushing the deuce. I had to do something, pronto!
I had taken some Tae Kwon Do in high school and touched on it again in college, but I needed something different.

As fate would have it, a new school opened up literally blocks from home and I stopped in to check it out.
Long story short, I joined and began training in Jun Fan - Jeet Kune Do Concepts, which is the art and philosophy of Bruce Lee.
The major thing that Bruce Lee stressed was it’s all on you. You have the power and drive to make the change you want to see. This journey is not made in a vacuum, however, and we do seek guidance from others.

This philosophy touched me most and I started asking myself questions. You know, the big ones like, “Who am I?” and “What can I do to improve myself?” Over time, those questions came up again with people I was talking with by way of me asking them. I found the conversations were boarding on life altering, and after some period of time I heard some have been. A simple conversation opened up the possibilities, and I was happy to be a part of that transition.

I moved along with a few careers and was never really satisfied with any of them. No surprise as over half of working Americans are not pleased with their jobs either.

When I found myself at that moment of change, I made the leap. I re-evaluated who I am and decided quite quickly to become a certified life coach. I already had the ability to ask the questions and it just needed to be taken to 11.

I look forward to clarifying people’s goal and guiding them along the path of their choosing!