Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 30, 2023

 Perfectionism is the enemy of progress.  It produces procrastination.  It paralyzes potential.  Face the truth, friend: perfect conditions are never going to come. - Rick Warren, Created to Dream

This is the first lie that perfectionism tells you about goals: Quit if it isn’t perfect. - Jon Acuff

In about a month, we will be halfway through the year. As the author was thinking about the last five months and all of the work she has been doing, she has often contemplated her goals. At this point, she has not tweaked any of them and does not plan to. Her priority has not been her blog, but she plans to make that a focus again in the coming weeks. Also, the author has been researching some new and fun opportunities for the coming months.

For the author, the quote that really caught her attention and made her review her situation was: 

The harder you try to be perfect, the less likely you’ll accomplish your goals. - Jon Acuff, Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done

As the author said in the last couple of blog posts, her perfectionist tendencies were her own making, and she needs to strive for excellence. When she strives for that, she is more likely to accomplish her goals.

Perfectionism always makes things harder and more complicated. Finishers make things easier and simpler. The next time you work on a goal, I dare you to ask the following questions during the middle of the project: Could things be easier? Could things be simpler? - Jon Acuff, Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done

ACTION: What perfectionist tendencies do you have? Are they affecting your goals? Are they affecting your relationships? What are you going to do to change the situation and strive for excellence instead?    

Resource

·        https://psychcentral.com/blog/imperfect/2019/09/why-you-should-strive-for-excellence-not-perfection

·        This sentence will change perfectionism forever. - https://acuff.me/atg23/

·        ATG 120: Beyond Perfect: The Hidden Enemy of Your Goals (Part 1) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-120-beyond-perfect-the-hidden-enemy-of-your-goals-part-1/id1547078080?i=1000608141418

·        ATG 121: Beyond Perfect: Soundtracks I Use to Beat Perfectionism (Part 2) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-121-beyond-perfect-soundtracks-i-use-to-beat-perfectionism/id1547078080?i=1000609236308

·        ATG 124: 8 Signs You’re a Perfectionist (Part 1) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-124-8-signs-youre-a-perfectionist-part-1/id1547078080?i=1000612126426

·        ATG 125: 8 Signs You’re a Perfectionist (Part 2) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-125-8-signs-youre-a-perfectionist-part-2/id1547078080?i=1000613019824

·        https://www.explorepsychology.com/perfectionism-definition-examples/

·        https://quotefancy.com/jon-acuff-quotes

·        Making Adjustments - Pt 2 | Joyce Meyer | Enjoying Everyday Life - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0YEq_4CKzk&t=1506s - 12:35 

·        Acuff, J. (2021). Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking. Prince Frederick.

·        https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/56765588-finish-give-yourself-the-gift-of-done

·        https://www.fullingmgmt.com/blog/soundtrack-symbols-make-your-soundtrack-stick

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-check-the-story-youre-telling-yourself/id1138081298?i=1000602915356

·        https://andystanley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Andy-Stanley-Leadership-Podcast-February-2023-Application-Guide.pdf

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-120-beyond-perfect-the-hidden-enemy-of-your-goals-part-1/id1547078080?i=1000608141418

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-121-beyond-perfect-soundtracks-i-use-to-beat-perfectionism/id1547078080?i=1000609236308

 

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 23, 2023

 Excellence does not require perfection. - Henry James

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. - Vince Lombardi

Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. - Pat Riley

Last week, the author wrote about the last four and a half months and the challenges she has encountered with her perfectionist tendencies. The author was striving to be perfect and realized that she was the only person that expected perfection and that she was the one defining perfection. While listening to Jon Acuff’s podcast, she realized that she was striving for the wrong thing.

According to Psych Central, perfectionists have extremely ambitious standards that are insurmountable to attain. While striving for these lofty standards, perfectionists often have health, relational and confidence issues. Perfectionists believe that any mistake they make is a failure and the mistake makes them inferior.

Instead of striving for perfection, one should strive for excellence. Striving for excellence allows one to feel content with a job well done and learn from one’s mistakes.

Acuff defined in his podcast titled “8 Signs You’re a Perfectionist (Part 1)” the differences between excellence and perfectionism.

Ø  Excellence launches. Perfectionism lags.

Ø  Excellence energizes. Perfectionism drains.

Ø  Excellence encourages others. Perfectionism discourages others.

Excellence is a process that should occupy all our days. - Theodore Wilhelm Engstrom

ACTION:  Monday, we will honor the men and women that lost their lives while serving in our armed forces. These men and women daily strived for excellence. As we honor these men and women, we should learn from their quest for excellence.   

Resource

·        https://psychcentral.com/blog/imperfect/2019/09/why-you-should-strive-for-excellence-not-perfection

·        This sentence will change perfectionism forever. - https://acuff.me/atg23/

·        ATG 120: Beyond Perfect: The Hidden Enemy of Your Goals (Part 1) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-120-beyond-perfect-the-hidden-enemy-of-your-goals-part-1/id1547078080?i=1000608141418

·        ATG 121: Beyond Perfect: Soundtracks I Use to Beat Perfectionism (Part 2) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-121-beyond-perfect-soundtracks-i-use-to-beat-perfectionism/id1547078080?i=1000609236308

·        ATG 124: 8 Signs You’re a Perfectionist (Part 1) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-124-8-signs-youre-a-perfectionist-part-1/id1547078080?i=1000612126426

·        ATG 125: 8 Signs You’re a Perfectionist (Part 2) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-125-8-signs-youre-a-perfectionist-part-2/id1547078080?i=1000613019824

·        https://www.explorepsychology.com/perfectionism-definition-examples/

·        https://quotefancy.com/jon-acuff-quotes

·        Making Adjustments - Pt 2 | Joyce Meyer | Enjoying Everyday Life - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0YEq_4CKzk&t=1506s - 12:35 

·        Acuff, J. (2021). Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking. Prince Frederick.

·        https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/56765588-finish-give-yourself-the-gift-of-done

·        https://www.fullingmgmt.com/blog/soundtrack-symbols-make-your-soundtrack-stick

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-check-the-story-youre-telling-yourself/id1138081298?i=1000602915356

·        https://andystanley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Andy-Stanley-Leadership-Podcast-February-2023-Application-Guide.pdf

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-120-beyond-perfect-the-hidden-enemy-of-your-goals-part-1/id1547078080?i=1000608141418

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-121-beyond-perfect-soundtracks-i-use-to-beat-perfectionism/id1547078080?i=1000609236308

 

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 16, 2023

 Perfection is the enemy of progress. - Craig Groeschel

Victory is in your attitude. Not in having perfect circumstances. -  Joyce Meyer

Has the reader ever had so much to do that they did not know where to start?

As the author has mentioned, she is currently covering for a coworker, meaning she has been doing two jobs for the last four and a half months and at the time of this writing there is not a definite end date.  Work has included many ten-hour days and working weekends. While working through this busy time, the author has tried to balance her life including work, personal and goals. Honestly, it has been extremely hard because the author has perfectionist tendencies and is now working to be a recovering perfectionist. During this extremely busy time, the author has learned unbelievably valuable lessons about perfectionism.

First, what is a perfectionist? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is a “disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable.”

The author has thought long and hard about why she has perfectionist tendencies and has had many contemplative times during the last four and a half months. Here are some questions the author analyzed as she has worked through this time:

1.      What is perfect?

2.      Who defines it?

3.      Why is perfection the “goal”?

ACTION:  Are you a perfectionist? Do you have perfectionist tendencies? Are they affecting your life?

Resource

·        https://www.explorepsychology.com/perfectionism-definition-examples/

·        https://quotefancy.com/jon-acuff-quotes

·        Making Adjustments - Pt 2 | Joyce Meyer | Enjoying Everyday Life - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0YEq_4CKzk&t=1506s - 12:35 

·        Acuff, J. (2021).  Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking. Prince Frederick.  

·        https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/56765588-finish-give-yourself-the-gift-of-done

·        https://www.fullingmgmt.com/blog/soundtrack-symbols-make-your-soundtrack-stick

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-check-the-story-youre-telling-yourself/id1138081298?i=1000602915356

·        https://andystanley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Andy-Stanley-Leadership-Podcast-February-2023-Application-Guide.pdf

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-120-beyond-perfect-the-hidden-enemy-of-your-goals-part-1/id1547078080?i=1000608141418

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-121-beyond-perfect-soundtracks-i-use-to-beat-perfectionism/id1547078080?i=1000609236308

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 9, 2023

 Choose your attitude every day until eventually it chooses you right back. - Jon Acuff

A soundtrack without action is just a fortune cookie. – John Acuff, Soundtracks

As a review from the last blog post, the author discussed the three questions one should ask when a potential negative soundtrack runs through the mind.

When these negative soundtracks emerge in our minds, the likelihood is stress or sleep deprivation. So, our first action should be to stop, breathe and walk away if possible. By changing surroundings, a fresh perspective allows for the creation of a new soundtrack.

Next, the reader needs to develop a new, positive, and encouraging soundtrack to replace the negative soundtrack. This new soundtrack will need to be repeated over and over again until it becomes as automatic as the negative soundtrack was.

Lastly, it is beneficial to attach a symbol to the new soundtrack according to Acuff. When those stressful times arise and one has to remember the positive soundtracks, the symbol will remind the reader to continually repeat the new soundtrack in one’s mind.

According to Acuff in the electronic version of Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking (4:36:35), the symbol should be:

1.      Simple

2.      Personal

3.      Visible

ACTION: What broken soundtracks do you need to retire and create new ones for? Create new soundtracks and select a symbol to help remember these new soundtracks.

Resource

·        https://quotefancy.com/jon-acuff-quotes

·        Acuff, J. (2021).  Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking. Prince Frederick. 

·        https://www.fullingmgmt.com/blog/soundtrack-symbols-make-your-soundtrack-stick

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-check-the-story-youre-telling-yourself/id1138081298?i=1000602915356

·        https://andystanley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Andy-Stanley-Leadership-Podcast-February-2023-Application-Guide.pdf

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-120-beyond-perfect-the-hidden-enemy-of-your-goals-part-1/id1547078080?i=1000608141418

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-121-beyond-perfect-soundtracks-i-use-to-beat-perfectionism/id1547078080?i=1000609236308

 

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 2, 2023

If you have a strong mind and plant in it a firm resolve, you can change your destiny. – Paramahansa Yogananda

The mind is everything.  What you think you become. - Buddha

Last week, the author talked about a crazy week she had and asked the reader how they would manage a situation they could not control.

In the author’s situation, the first couple of hours were difficult for her. She was upset and continually tried to call the electricity company to figure out when the power would be turned back on. Even with her persistence, nothing happened. The author tried to control the situation and could do nothing. Finally, she stopped, took a breath, and went for a drive.   

For a while, the author blamed herself for the electricity going out. That may sound crazy, but the author spiraled to crazy thoughts because she was tired, frustrated and trying to control. When those crazy thoughts were festering in her mind, the author remembered a quote in Jon Acuff’s book Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking.

One of the greatest mistakes you can make in life is assuming all your thoughts are true.

This was a great reminder of the author. At that moment, she remembered the three questions that Acuff discussed on Andy Stanley’s podcast to determine if the soundtrack in one’s mind was “broken.”  The questions listed below were discussed in the February 2023 podcast: 

A. Is it true? One of the greatest mistakes you make is assuming that all your thoughts are true.

B. Is it helpful? There are some things in life that are true but not helpful.

C. Is it kind? If you said it to a friend, would they still want to be your friend.

ACTION: Think back to the last time you were having a horrible, no-good day and think about the thoughts you thought about yourself. Were they uplifting or degrading? What did you do?

Resource

·        Acuff, J. (2021).  Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking. Prince Frederick. 

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-check-the-story-youre-telling-yourself/id1138081298?i=1000602915356

·        https://andystanley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Andy-Stanley-Leadership-Podcast-February-2023-Application-Guide.pdf

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-120-beyond-perfect-the-hidden-enemy-of-your-goals-part-1/id1547078080?i=1000608141418

·        https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atg-121-beyond-perfect-soundtracks-i-use-to-beat-perfectionism/id1547078080?i=1000609236308