Don't Make your Bed

Blog One: Perfectionism

Opening Question: What habits do you have with the motive or intention of trying to be perfect?

Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

Now onto the blog!

I feel like everyone is a perfectionist in one way or another; and I deeply believe that perfectionism comes from a belief that we are not loveable, worthy, or enough if we don’t achieve whatever standard we have for ourselves. You may be a perfectionist in a sport you play, in school, in a hobby you have, in maintaining your image, etc. But- if you are like me, perfectionism plagues smaller and seemingly insignificant parts of your life, too. Having a routine, getting a certain amount of steps in, spending a certain amount of time on your phone, making your bed.

It doesn’t help that there are pressures all around us telling us what we need to do to be good enough or have a happy life. There are books on how to hustle and be more productive. There are products advertised promising a happier and more fulfilling life. There is content that we see everyday of ‘that girl’ who we long to be like. All of this plants an idea in our head that we need to do better, we need to be better, and we are not good enough as we are. That, in essence, is the start of perfectionism.

I am tempted to take the easy way out and just say that inherently- you are a child of God and you are worthy, loved, and enough, without doing anything (which is true). Yet I realize that is easier said than done.

I can tell you all day long that you are good enough and loved- but none of that matters if you don’t believe it. With that said- I have a challenge for you.

Don’t buy the product promising to make your life better. Don’t pull all nighters on a regular basis to get more done. Don’t count your steps. Don’t make your bed. Don’t do whatever habit you have that you feel like somehow makes you worthy, loveable, or good enough.

You cannot truly realize that you have inherent worth and ‘good-enough-ness’ until you step away from your perfectionist habits and realize that God and those in your life still love you and think that you are good enough even when you don’t push yourself to achieve perfection.

It isn’t until you stop fighting to be perfect that you can turn your eyes and realize that those around you love you because you are you. Not because you make your bed, or have a good workout routine, or are ‘that girl’. It isn’t until you look away from perfection (even just for a moment) and turn towards God that you see that God’s love for you was never about anything you could do, but rather about who God is. So take a breath. Let go of perfectionism (at least for this moment) and remember why you are worthy, loved, and good enough.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

You love me because you are a loving God.

There is nothing I could do that would make you love me more or less.

On the days when I am trying to be perfect or when I feel like I’m not doing or being enough,

Help me remember that I am enough and worthy just as I am.

Amen.