Last week was HARD.
Although I usually strive to have a simplified schedule that will keep me from overloading my stress responses, last week’s obligations made that impossible. We had end of the year school things going on, a family reunion, and a church-family gathering in our home, in addition to all the regular family-life duties.
And I got overwhelmed by it all.
See, I want things to be right. I want my house to be right and my yard to be right and my kids to be ok and my laundry to be done and everything else to be done, too.
But I also want people to feel welcome in my home and I want to not care what people think about what my house looks like.
I am not there yet. I still stress about the floors not being mopped (and there being acrylic paint in the shape of monster truck tires decorating the hardwood). I stress about the sink not being clean. I stress that people might open my pantry and things fall on them. I stress about the bathroom that I shoved all the junk into so that people wouldn’t have to step over it (or see it). I stress about me stressing. I stress about the dogs bothering people when they come over, and I stress that we may not have enough food.
But why do I do that???? I know that my friends don’t care about the monster truck paint designs on my floor, or the hair ball under the piano. I know they don’t look at my baseboards and swipe their fingers across them (well, that did happen one time, but I think we have all matured past that….). I know they don’t get uptight about my dogs and they don’t even think about looking into my pantry.
I think the reason I even think about it at all is that I am a perfectionist at heart. But I am a weird kind of perfectionist. One that deep down knows that all of this extra stuff going on in my brain is not helping me–and it is making my life less than it could be. I know that I would be happier and more settled in my heart if I felt comfortable being less than perfect. I know that things are going to come up and “mess up” my plans and I want to be ok with that. I want to be COMPLETELY ok with people seeing me how I really am.
But I am not there yet.
I hope to allow my over-busy week to help me better focus my attention on the things that really matter. I hope to allow it to help me keep up with a weekly schedule that will help me keep things done without feeling overworked and overwhelmed. Doing things a little at a time, every day, consistently, is the key to me feeling confident in my situation without having to pursue perfection. That’s what I am going to aim for this week…this month…maybe even the rest of the year. Confidence without perfection.
And, maybe the peace that brings my heart will help me to better enjoy the less than perfect life that I love so very much.
If you would like to watch a video to help you feel motivated in your cleaning schedule and routine, you can check out THIS video!
I would love to hear about how you keep yourself grounded and confident in your current self without feeling the pressure to be perfect at everything. I need to hear all the tips!
Thanks for being here!
I love you!
Lori