Today I believe I am enough. I’ve had an amazing day: I was hugged by the mayoress of Lewisham and celebrated a group of women graduating from their peer support training. I came home, shattered, to find I’d been cited in a Facebook Women Who Speak group as an example of a female speaker working in a clearly defined niche, confidence for the working woman. Quite a day. Then an impromptu invitation to get involved in a video shoot on expert authority! I am rocking it. I love what I do. I hope you do too.
It wasn’t always like that for me. I didn’t always believe I was enough. I was reminded of that today when I read an interview with Marisa Peer in which she talked about how important it is to believe ‘I am enough’; that so many of us feel that we are not enough. When you believe you are enough, that gives you confidence and self-esteem.
This fits so elegantly with my philosophy of good enough; the good enough working mother; the good enough business mum. Good enough really is good enough. You don’t need to be the perfect mother. You don’t need to be the perfect business woman.
Historically I have always sought perfection. I have had a reputation for being a perfectionist. No longer. I realised about a year ago that my perfectionism was holding me back. My perfectionist tendencies were getting in the way of my own success. I continue to have high attention to detail however I am now more forgiving of myself and of others.
I have learned to accept that it IS ok to make mistakes and to NOT let perfectionism get in the way of action. I feel so passionately about wanting all women to feel powerful. I believe that you will feel powerful when you have confidence – confidence you gain through knowledge and self-understanding. When I let my perfectionism get in the way of taking action, I can’t help as many women as I want to.
Wanting to be perfect encourages you to procrastinate and put things off. It gives you a great excuse when you delay getting started because in fact you’re scared of failure; or scared of success. Imperfect action achieves SO much more than perfect inaction. It’s something I say to my clients ALL the time.
I was talking to my business accountability partner a couple of weeks ago, and the lightbulb moment! I have been dilly dallying over the launch of The Confidence Oasis … I was scared it wouldn’t work; I wanted it to be perfect; I was worried nobody would join. I have been talking about this business club concept for months! Months! There are so many mums who run their own business who need help and support with making the big decisions; who are feeling overwhelmed; stuck because of a lack of confidence; know they want to develop their skills but not sure how. Business mums will love this offering which allows you to benefit from one-to-one coaching, group coaching and exclusive expert interviews. I knew that I had to follow the advice I give to my clients “Imperfect action achieves more than perfect inaction”.
It’s not perfect; it’s not complete; the founder members will help me to shape it however The Confidence Oasis is now officially open.
If you’re not in love with life, NOW is the time to do something about it. Don’t waste another day.
How I felt about my business 12 months ago, and how I feel now – there’s no comparison. I just couldn’t love my life any more than I do right now. I love what I do. I know I am enough … don’t you want the same too? Life is short. Make the most of it. Take imperfect action today.
Leave a comment and let me know whether you are enough.
“Wanting to be perfect encourages you to procrastinate and put things off.” This is so true. I feel like you were writing about me! Big ideas, good ideas, but “imperfections” never end therefore you get nowhere quick.
I’m learning that through the blogging challenge as well. It might never be ready or perfect enough to publish, but I have to press that button. 🙂
The blogging challenge is a great way to learn how perfectly imperfect action is so good for you!
There is a lot of pressure nowadays to do everything, every moment of the day. I have had wobbles before where I’ve believed that I’m not enough but don’t think too much about it nowadays. I just get on with things.
Good for you Bek. We all have wobbles but glad to hear that you don’t about it much.
Seems as though you have found your niche and are comfy in your skin!
Thank you Carol. I absolutely have found my niche.
Haha. I’ve been working on ‘good is good enough’ and I can do it now. Some of the time. 😉
I think also there are times you want things to be perfect too. There are some things that just matter enough you need to add the extra edge. I do love going with the flow these days. That isn’t about perfection either. Life/work shapes itself around you. That rocks!
Love it Sarah – “life/work shapes itself around you”.
thank you Sarah. Going with the flow is so much easier. Your food photos are incredible and getting better every time.
Wow! This could have been written just for me. I really need to start believing that good enough is good enough and not try and be perfect at everything. I really am enough! I know this as I have two wonderful little human beings who are happy and kind and a business that is just over a year old that is doing really well. Yeah, good enough is definitely good enough!
Glad this spoke to you Angela. I want us all to feel more than enough, powerful in fact. But enough is enough …