Sometimes good is good enough.

I saw a quote on my calendar today, and I have to disagree respectfully. I get where the person is going, but I let go of some of my perfectionism over the years, and it has freed up my task list tremendously. The quote… If better is possible, good is not enough. – unknown-

Sometimes good is good enough. I learned this with my tasks and tasks I delegate.

There is a significant step in delegating that I think most people miss. This applies especially to the perfectionist. When you assign, it should be the same as bringing it down, tying a pretty bow on it, and crossing it off the list. Give it away 100%. When I first delegated, I would keep ownership. I was a hovercraft. I watched over the person I gave it to, making sure they did it right (also known as assuring they did it my way, which was the perfect way, I thought).

I would take the completed task, examine it for perfection, make tweaks, or end up redoing it because the result wasn’t what I had in mind. Dear God, delegating was killing me. It added steps and time to getting ‘er done. Whose brilliant idea was it to delegate?

I was missing a crucial component. Assign to someone and release. Trust the person you gave it to and don’t be a backseat driver. There are plenty of things on your list that has you at the wheel. Everyone grows and learns when he or she empowered to own a task from start to finish. Let it go, shake off the need to have something perfect, and trust it is getting done. In the beginning, it will be hard. Resist the desire to redo the dishes after your teenager washes them. They may not be as scrubbed as you like but will you die of dysentery if the plates can’t be used as surgical instruments?

Pick your times when good is good enough. If I’m creating a report or document for Senior Leadership or a customer facing document, better is the goal. But most days, good works. I’ve also learned that if I haven’t finished everything on my list at the end of the day, I’ve still done enough. There is always tomorrow!

Love what you do.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” -Steve Jobs-
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Inspirational quotes – brainy quote

I agree your heart will know when you have found it! You will suddenly have all the energy in the world and will feel like you can tackle anything. If changing jobs isn’t something you can do right now, don’t fret. There are things you can do while you are looking for that perfect job that feeds your soul. Start with a list of the areas of your life that might need a tweak to feel inspired again. Something as simple as learning to dance, building a garden or taking a photography class can make you feel excited and alive. Steve is on to something with not settling. If you are not doing what is feeding your soul, what is making you happy, what is helping you live your authentic self, chances are you feel like you are on a hamster wheel and every day is like groundhog day. Keep looking, don’t settle.

What’s that song, if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one your with? While you are waiting for that perfect job that helps you feel satisfied, try a few subtle changes with your current position in the interim. I discovered that adding a new skill to my role and learning something new can help me feel inspired again.

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Everyday Matters.

I superimposed my mini-me Bitmoji avatar onto a favorite vacation spot in Ireland. I have it as my screen saver on my computer and iPhone as a reminder that every day matters when you are going about your everyday matters.

 

 

The round rocks in the Giant’s Causeway are a result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. They are beautiful and the view is breathtaking.

Life is short. Sometimes it feels like we are in a hamster wheel repeating each day like ground-hog-day. Days blur together and it seems like one day is no different than the next. Lather, rinse and repeat. It may feel that way, but it is not true. Every day matters and everything we say and do in that day matters as we go about our everyday matters.

 

Why does it matter that I superimposed a comic image over a volcanic rock? It matters to me. It represents a few things.

1. I acted on a commitment to myself. (I took a vacation with friends and family)
2. My path may be rocky at times, but my foundation is smooth and strong.
3. What am I going to do with my life today? Good reminder to start my day mindful.

My decision to live my best life after a brain-bleed inspired spending quality time with family and friends, to get out of the house more, take more vacations and stress less about work.  Ireland was a new vacation spot for me in my quest to experience new things. The rocks are round and smooth but the path to the top can be a bit rocky. Pun intended. I love this photo. As I walked up the path I thought ‘I’m okay with a rocky path because I know my foundation is strong like the columns that formed these rocks bursting through the fissures.’

How we respond to life’s eruptions matter. For that matter, we are in full control. We can choose our response, our reactions. We can stay positive and mindful or we can spiral out of control and lash out at those around us.

How we spend our day is not a trivial matter. In fact, it is a matter to take quite seriously. What matters most is that you are true to yourself each day.  As a matter of fact,  staying in your integrity is one of the few things we have control of when we make decisions that matter or in our response to someone when we have asked them if something is the matter.

Please trust me in these matters. Life is short and the days are shorter. Don’t waste them especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

 

Retrospective Mind

Daily Prompt
Retrospective

Today’s daily prompt put me in a retrospective frame of mind. I’ve been trying to practice being more mindful and staying present both at work and in my personal life. I can definitely see the benefits. It has helped me savor the moments, be more engaged and focused.

I’m a project manager and at the end of a project we take a retrospective look back at what worked and didn’t work. The comments are discussed, documented and procedures are tweaked as applicable for the next project. I realized my mindful practice helped me to break down the issues more readily than in past projects. Having a present awareness during the project seemed to store things in my long-term-memory for easier recall when it came time to drill into the lessons learned. Is this possible or is it my imagination?  Anyone else have similar experiences?

Life’s detours.

Establishing goals is all right if you don’t let them deprive you of interesting detours.-Doug Larson-

I think we have all heard the saying “when one door closes, another one opens.” It might feel like that door is more like a small window you have to maneuver through or sometimes it might feel like beautiful French doors that pop wide open. Whatever the case it’s important to see the blessings in life’s little detours.

A few years ago I worked for a company that moved me into a position that was “best for the needs of the company.” My title remained the same, I was just working in a different business unit. I was transferred from the IT area to another business area in operations. I tried to fight it. I was unsuccessful. The move shifted the trajectory I thought I was on. It was hard not to feel like a marionette puppet.  Even harder not to be bitter. I had a choice; I could leave. I decided to stay and change my perception and see it as one of life’s detours.

Instead of taking it personally, I thought of the monthly emails announcing position changes and the emails announcing as of today x is no longer working here.  It was common practice to move people around the company chess board. I will admit, in the past when I read those emails I felt they were playing Russian roulette with the employees. We were the “bullets” in the chamber and with an almost quarterly spin, you could be shot out like a cannon or hang back in the chamber waiting for the next spin. Recognizing it was a business and of course, the needs of the company was a factor in each of our career paths, I took a tuck and roll approach. I adjusted with each change and over the years, I had several more in “the best interest of the company” moves.

For the moment the dust has settled. Things have stabilized. I work with a great team. They are both collaborative and supportive of each other. My position allows me to use all of my strengths and I’m able to learn new things, which is important to me. I’m in a good place while I wait for the next spin.

Embrace the detours. Thinking back they seemed to arrive around the time I was getting comfortable and nestled in, and quite possibly limiting my opportunity for growth. I was given the chance to make delicious lemonade from a basket of perceived Lemons. Maybe it wasn’t the company making the changes, but the universe setting things in motion for my highest good. Sure feels like that now.

 

 

Want to be more creative? Go for a walk.

Particular Maneuver​

Daily Prompt Particular. 

I remember in basic training when we were learning how to march in formation, our instructor would yell out “I am about to show you a maneuver, pay close attention to this part of my body.” He would either motion like Vanna White to the lower or upper half of his body. I thought it was funny, but in hindsight, I realized how profound his process was. What a gift to have the lesson you are about to receive clearly spelled out so you know exactly what to focus on.

Years later a friend made a comment about repeating patterns in a relationship and that until you learn whatever lesson was being sent your way, that pattern would continue to repeat itself. For example, picking a person that is safe to avoid being hurt or picking a person that is emotionally unavailable because on some level we might not be ready for a full connection or believe we are not worthy.

One of my favorite Saturday Night Live skits involved a person visiting a psychiatrist. For the entire session no matter what the patient said, the response from the psychiatrist was “look to yourself.” It cracked me up and stayed with me. I realized it was intended for entertainment, but it made me think, what an excellent response. Looking at patterns and figuring out any lessons you can gain from them may move you forward and break the cycle. Patterns that crop up every few years are on a smaller scale and admittedly harder to recognize, but are equally important to analyze.

Being mindful and present of your patterns helps you watch for life’s lessons with eyes-wide-open. If you keep having the same type of experience and you want to make a shift, pay attention to your patterns and the next time when the universe yells out, “I’m about to execute a life lesson, pay particular attention to your relationship,” look closely at any patterns you may be repeating.

 

Manifesting-Ask and receive.

Ask and you shall receive.

Is it as simple as Asking? Yes and no.  Yes, it is as simple as asking.  You would be amazed at how quickly doors open and opportunities present themselves once you move forward with announcing your desires to yourself, and others.

Gingerly kind of day? I don’t think so!

I’ve got this!

Gingerly

Good morning. I sit here trying to decide what kind of day I’m going to have. Yes, it is my choice. I feel tired this morning and that part of me wants to step gingerly into my day, take it slow and keep a low profile. Then on the other hand, if I dive in full throttle, cup of coffee in hand will that bring up my energy level? I think it might.

That is what I will do. Full throttle!

Good Morning!

I hope everyone has a fabulous and productive day! I know I will.

Decisions – Right or wrong, just decide.

Make a decision and go for it!

Today’s daily prompt

Prefer. 

Have you ever noticed that opportunities seem to open as soon as you make a decision as to what it is you want?  Some call it manifesting. If you visualize it or say it out loud you are likely to make it a reality. Staying on the fence seems to have the opposite impact. It keeps everything on hold.