“Perfection is a point of view.”
Are you the kind of woman who would stretch yourself to make EVERYTHING just right? A tad this side or that, and you feel like a horrid failure?
Women want to be the best for their families, their friends, and even for themselves. But does being perfect mean a perfect 10 in everything?
When you focus only on perfection, life becomes a race. The thrill is there at the beginning, but soon you are panting to reach the finish line. You want to excel at work, cook the perfect dish, teach your little ones all the best values, never blow your top, keep your husband smiling, participate in brownie meets, AND host a welcome party for your neighbor. Clearly, this is asking too much.
Perfection is what YOU make of it. Often, in our bid to excel in one thing, we horribly fail at others. Excel where you can. For the rest, a good effort should suffice. There is no one to compete with or compare yourself to. Remember, you DON’T have to be #1 in EVERY RACE!
WHAT IS YOUR ROPE TIED TO?
You may have heard of the man who decided to repair the roof of his
house. The pitch was steep, and to be safe, he tied a rope around
his waist and threw the other end of it over the top of the house.
He called his son and asked him to tie it to something secure. The
boy fastened the safety rope to the bumper of their car parked in
the driveway. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
house. The pitch was steep, and to be safe, he tied a rope around
his waist and threw the other end of it over the top of the house.
He called his son and asked him to tie it to something secure. The
boy fastened the safety rope to the bumper of their car parked in
the driveway. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
But a little while later, his wife needed to run a few errands with
the automobile. Unaware of the line securing her husband, she
started the car and proceeded to drive away. The rope immediately
tightened and jerked the man over the roof and into thin air. Now
before you become alarmed, let me assure you that this never really
happened. But I chuckle at the image of the poor guy sailing over
the top of his house like Evel Knievel without a motorcycle.
the automobile. Unaware of the line securing her husband, she
started the car and proceeded to drive away. The rope immediately
tightened and jerked the man over the roof and into thin air. Now
before you become alarmed, let me assure you that this never really
happened. But I chuckle at the image of the poor guy sailing over
the top of his house like Evel Knievel without a motorcycle.
This story, factual or not, points to a great truth. It is a truth
about where we place our security; about those things to which we've
tied our safety lines. What is your rope tied to?
about where we place our security; about those things to which we've
tied our safety lines. What is your rope tied to?
Think about it. What do you depend on to keep you from disaster? Is
your rope tied to a good job? Is it tied to a relationship with
somebody you rely on? Is it tied to a company or an organization?
your rope tied to a good job? Is it tied to a relationship with
somebody you rely on? Is it tied to a company or an organization?
In her wise and sensitive audio LESSONS IN LIVING writer Susan Taylor tells of
discovering how unreliable some of our safety lines really are. She
tells of lying in bed in the early hours of the morning when an
earthquake struck. As her house shook, she tumbled out of bed and
managed to stand underneath an arched door-way in her hall, watching
in horror as her whole house tumbled down around her. Where her bed
had once stood, she later discovered nothing but a pile of rubble.
She lost everything - every button, every dish, her automobile,
every stitch of clothing.
discovering how unreliable some of our safety lines really are. She
tells of lying in bed in the early hours of the morning when an
earthquake struck. As her house shook, she tumbled out of bed and
managed to stand underneath an arched door-way in her hall, watching
in horror as her whole house tumbled down around her. Where her bed
had once stood, she later discovered nothing but a pile of rubble.
She lost everything - every button, every dish, her automobile,
every stitch of clothing.
Susan huddled, scared and crying, in the darkness. In the pre-dawn
morning she cried and called out for help.
morning she cried and called out for help.
As exhaustion set in, she thought that maybe she should be listening
for rescuers rather than making so much commotion. So she grew still
and listened. In the silence around her, the only sound she heard
was the beating of her own heart. It occurred to her then that at
least she was still alive and, amazingly enough, unhurt.
for rescuers rather than making so much commotion. So she grew still
and listened. In the silence around her, the only sound she heard
was the beating of her own heart. It occurred to her then that at
least she was still alive and, amazingly enough, unhurt.
She thought about her situation. In the stillness, fear abandoned
her and a feeling of indescribable peace and happiness flooded in,
the likes of which she had never before known. It was an experience
that was to permanently change her life.
her and a feeling of indescribable peace and happiness flooded in,
the likes of which she had never before known. It was an experience
that was to permanently change her life.
In the deepest part of her being, Susan realized a remarkable truth.
She realized she had nothing to fear. Amazingly, whether or not she
was ever rescued, whether she even made it out alive, she sensed she
had nothing to fear.
She realized she had nothing to fear. Amazingly, whether or not she
was ever rescued, whether she even made it out alive, she sensed she
had nothing to fear.
For the first time in her life she understood that her true security
did not depend on those things in which she had placed her trust. It
lay deep within. And also for the first time, she knew what it was
to be content in all circumstances. She realized that, in an
ultimate sense, whether she had plenty or hardly enough, somehow she
would be all right. She just knew it.
did not depend on those things in which she had placed her trust. It
lay deep within. And also for the first time, she knew what it was
to be content in all circumstances. She realized that, in an
ultimate sense, whether she had plenty or hardly enough, somehow she
would be all right. She just knew it.
She later wrote, "Before the quake I had all the trappings of
success, but my life was out of balance. I wasn't happy because I
was clinging to things in my life and always wanting more. My home,
my job, my clothes, a relationship - I thought they were my
security. It took an earthquake and losing everything I owned for me
to discover that my security had been with me all along . . .
There's a power within us that we can depend upon no matter what is
happening around us."
success, but my life was out of balance. I wasn't happy because I
was clinging to things in my life and always wanting more. My home,
my job, my clothes, a relationship - I thought they were my
security. It took an earthquake and losing everything I owned for me
to discover that my security had been with me all along . . .
There's a power within us that we can depend upon no matter what is
happening around us."
She had tied her rope to the wrong things. It took a disaster for
her to understand that those things are untrustworthy. So she let go
of the rope and discovered peace. She found that her true security
was a power within - dependable and sure.
her to understand that those things are untrustworthy. So she let go
of the rope and discovered peace. She found that her true security
was a power within - dependable and sure.
What is your rope tied to? And what would happen if you found the
courage to let go of it?
courage to let go of it?
Steve Goodier
Does it seem that there’s not enough time? The fact is, at the moment, there is nothing other than now.
Time is something you look back upon or imagine moving through. Now is what you have to work with.
No matter how long you think it might take, what matters is what you are doing about it right now. Now is when you can make the effort, and now is when you can have an influence.
Everything that has ever been accomplished has been done by making use of a succession of present moments. You have just as much time as everyone else because everyone has this same moment right now.
Instead of putting off the effort, now is your opportunity to make it real and to make it happen. By making full use of this present moment, you make the next one more valuable.
Dream big dreams, then jump right in and live those dreams. There is always time, and it is always now.
Ralph Marston
