I ALWAYS think about this… “Perfection is overrated. Progress is where the magic happens.” I have said this many different ways over the years but I think this is the way I would quote this idea!
I mean listen if any of us get to the point where we are waiting for the “perfect” time to start, spoiler alert: It doesn’t exist. January isn’t for waiting around until everything is aligned, perfect, and ready to go. I mean hell look at this January as an example! It’s for messy beginnings, awkward first steps, and figuring it out as you go. So, let’s ditch perfectionism and focus on progress—because that’s where the real magic happens.
Why Messy Progress Works
Think back to when you first learned to ride a bike. The first time you hopped on, you probably wobbled, maybe even fell, and definitely looked a bit ridiculous. But once you finally got the hang of it, you felt the wind in your hair and the freedom that comes with being able to ride smoothly. Or think about the first time you drew a picture or wrote a poem or baked your first cake for that matter. Were the lines straight, did the word flow like you wanted was the cake flat on top? Probably not because you were starting to learn and moving forward with what you learned to the next level of whatever it was you were doing. RIGHT!
That’s exactly how progress works. It’s messy at first, often uncomfortable, awkward, and a little clumsy—but eventually, it all clicks. And before you know it, you’re gliding along, doing things you once thought were impossible. I know for me it took forever to draw a straight line (and sometimes it still impossible but I can now do it mostly!)
Here’s another real-life example from my own journey: A few years ago, I decided to join a yoga class that was labeled “beginner.” Sounds easy enough, right? Two minutes into the class, I realized I wasn’t just a beginner, I was super beginner and I felt my lip quiver and my eyes fill with tears!. I had zero flexibility (I swear, I couldn’t even touch my toes) and let’s just say the outfit was more awkward than stylish and I think I even told the instructor at the end I had NO Core and that this would never work! But I kept showing up. Slowly, week by week, I improved, and by the end of that year, I could touch my toes… barely. Progress, not perfection. That’s what it’s all about.
Another good example is having no expectations of a final product or something I’m doing because then I am always disappointed. Sure, I have an idea and an end goal, but I go with the flow. The best way I could explain this… stay with me. You are going to a Barry Manilow Concert (I know I know) and you cannot wait to hear him sing Mandy. Now the show was amazing, I mean the playlist, the venue, the food while watching. But the concert hit the end and there was no Mandy to be hear. So what happens you are so disappointed because you expected to here that one song Mandy that you were just disappointed in the whole thing. I mean reality is it was a great show, the music was greats as was the food and had you not been expecting that one song you would have left happy… See what I mean. We all have this Mandy story just in different ways.
Today is your lucky day I have Your Messy Action Plan
Ready to embrace the mess? Let’s make it simple and fun. Here’s your action plan for getting started:
- Pick One Thing You’ve Been Procrastinating On
Think of something you’ve been putting off, maybe because it seems too big, too complicated, or—let’s be real—because you’re waiting for the “perfect moment.” Maybe it’s a project you’ve been dreaming of starting, a goal you’ve been avoiding, a habit you’ve been meaning to form or a painting you have wanted to finish for eons. Whatever it is, it’s time to stop waiting and start now. Pick one thing that you’ll work on the rest of this month. - Do the Smallest Possible Step Today
These actions do not require big leaps—it requires small, consistent actions. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t even need to have all the answers. Just take the tiniest possible step today. Maybe it’s writing a single sentence for that book you’ve been thinking about. Maybe it’s Googling a yoga class in your area. Whatever it is, make it so small that you can’t talk yourself out of it. - Repeat
The key to messy progress is consistency. The more you show up and take small steps, the more confident you’ll become. And guess what? By the time you look back, you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come—and how much you’ve learned along the way.
Let 2025 Be the Year You Embrace the Mess—and Make It Yours
This year, let go of the notion that everything has to be perfect before you start. You can’t control how messy it might get, but you can control the actions you take. So, let’s make this the year you embrace imperfection. Because progress is where the magic happens—and you’re already on your way.
Are you ready to embrace the mess? Let’s go!
Peace, Happiness and NatureHeals®
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