Perfectionist? Ask Yourself This Question

I didn’t have the smoothest week.

It started on Wednesday when I dashed out of the house wearing one black glove and one red. A quirky mix-and-match moment I could hide by simply taking them off.

But as the sun came up, things took a more embarrassing turn:

I realized I’d also worn one black shoe… and one brown.

For someone who uses color for a living, even I couldn’t pretend there was a palette solution for that.

So I did the only thing left.

I went on with my day — mismatched shoes and all.

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Thursday arrived with a different kind of mismatch.

I walked into a chilly 55-degree house. The furnace had decided to begin its winter hibernation early. When I went to load the dishwasher, it joined the rebellion. I pushed the button. Nothing.

As the temperature dropped and the dishes stacked up in the sink, I turned to my husband Larry and asked, “Should we cancel the birthday celebration on Sunday?”

“The party is three days away,” he said. “We’ll get someone here tomorrow. And honestly, the dishwasher is so old it’s probably cheaper to replace it.”

Which translated to:

I would be handwashing dishes for ten people.

And yet — my attitude didn’t crumble.

Because I reached for a familiar question.

Will this matter in five years?

Probably not.

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The truth is, my home will always be a work in progress.

Some weeks the windows streak.The oven begs for attention.The laundry develops ideas of independence.

But even in the mess, our home holds family. Stories. Laughter.

And laughter, I’ve learned, softens the sharp edges of imperfection.

So if you’re a perfectionist — or simply overwhelmed — here’s the question I return to again and again:

How important will this feel in five years?

Most of the time, the answer loosens its grip.

Even my photographs aren’t perfect. Who can get everyone to sit still at the same time anyway?

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If you ever feel your chest tighten, your thoughts race, or your stress rise like a thermometer in a broken furnace — pause.

Breathe.

Ask the question.

Let the answer settle you.

Because life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

One of my favorite reminders comes from The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith:

“Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.”

And if color decisions tend to trip up your perfectionist side, you may enjoy this too:

The #1 Reason to Avoid the Perfect Color Match

If you ever feel your chest tighten, your vision blur with overwhelm, or your stress level rising like a thermometer in a broken furnace… stop.

Breathe.

Ask yourself:“Will this matter in five years?”

Let your answer settle you. Give yourself room to be human.

And remember a motto from one of my favorite books, The Nesting Place by Myquillin Smith:

“Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.”

Click this link to read more.

Blogger Author, Myquillyn Smith

P.S. Want to know the #1 Reason to Avoid the Perfect Color Match? Click here to read more!