Perfection

Do your expectations ever interfere with your experience and performance?

Since you subscribe to this message, it’s likely you have high standards and great confidence in the power of possibilities. While these beliefs are hallmarks of people and organizations that realize great dreams and ambitions, when taken to an extreme such perfectionism sometimes becomes unhealthy and unproductive.

To become a champion, one surely must aim high, work hard and expect the best. But those who pursue bold goals are also the most likely to experience disappointments, failures and setbacks. Perfectionism in such bold pursuits is not only unrealistic it is also quite often fatal.

Champions know that winning sometimes has little to do with playing a perfect game and more to do with minimizing, adjusting and learning from your mistakes.

Champions know how to trust and let go in competition when perfectionists are more likely to doubt themselves, bear down and consequently breakdown under pressure.

If you are not pleased with your current experience and performance, maybe your expectations are too high. And yet, if your expectations are too low, you will rarely experience great performance. This is one of the aspiring champion’s greatest dilemmas.

Aim high this week, as always.

But be sure to accept your frustrations and disappointments with grace and perhaps with thanks that you are learning the lessons required to take your game to the next level.

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To read my entire October message that includes suggestions for daily practice and inspirational quotes, please see: www.irislearning.com/messagero/07Oct11.htm