Stop Being So Tough on Yourself

I’m mostly writing this Chapter based on my observance of my mother and sister all of my Life. It’s been interesting to see them in their striving for Perfectionism. Things had to be done a certain way. They had to have things organized and put where they wanted. They had to have their dishes washed a certain way. They were major clean-a-holics. There could never be specks of anything on dishes. The list goes on! 

OK, so I changed my mind, I have observed other people as well do things perfectly down to the wire it seems. When I have worked in the Service Industry, you have to be organized, take Sanitary and clean-up precautions. Everything has to be followed by procedure and by Policy. This keeps things neat and it provides a degree of comfort to Customers and other people. I will agree there is nothing worse than things not being clean. It’s the same as not washing your body once a week, at least! 

Another example of someone being ‘tough’ on themselves: when I was in College, I was more focused than I had ever been in High School. I wanted to do well. I did not care if I received an A, as long as I knew I put in the time and effort to do the work. I felt a sense of accomplishment no matter what the Grade was. I did not strive to get A’s or seem to have to Prove myself to be the Best of the Best. I am often proud of others’ Successes whether they received Rewards and high achievement Awards, what matters to me is the work they put in and what they can use in the Real World to make their lives and the lives of others better. Here comes a judgment: I DO NOT LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE TOUGH ON THEMSELVES, who believe they have to have it so Perfect down to the wire. Ack! Can you see me running flailing my arms? Maybe I need a change of behavior or thought on that. The people I admire the most is anyone in the Psychology field. Later I am going to mention my favorite Psychologists and some of my favorite LIfe Coaches and Spirituality Leaders that have helped me in tremendous ways! These are people who I believe did not have to be so tough on themselves and yet maybe in a way they have been.