Why I am shooting for Better not Perfect - Sammi Jaeger

Have you ever been told this by a parent, boss, coach, peer or friend…?

 
"If you're going to do it, do it right, or don't bother doing it at all"

 Or maybe this version 

 “If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right”

 
I’ve heard this more times than I can count and it’s held me back from doing things or doing them but only after I’ve double, triple and quadruple checked it. 

 
But this week, I had an insight and I’ve decided I think that's truly shit advice.

 
Being perfect is an illusion -- it's not real.

 
I believe Better Relationships = Better World

And part of that, is believing that both of those things can always be better, and therefore never perfect. 

 
This week I was out for a guided run with headphones and a coach in my ears encouraging me through my paces and he said “If you can’t do the run you want, settle for the run you can do” and if I hadn’t been trying to beat my own time, I would have stopped in my tracks, instead I took a very serious mental note and kept on running.

One of the things I am working on right now is being more prolific and less perfect.

Prolifically sharing ideas, words and resources

Prolifically creating IG reels, podcasts and book chapters

Prolifically moving my body, running, yoga-ing and lifting

 
I’m letting go of agonising over every little thing before deeming it “done” or delaying until conditions are perfect. 

 
I am embracing a much more “done is better than perfect” approach *Consider this a forward warning about my inevitable typos  It’s not about “not caring” it’s about caring enough to let the self imposed perfection shackles go. 

So this week I’d like to invite you to adapt my running coach's advice and apply it to your relationship. 

 
Stop waiting for the perfect conditions for that perfect date night. Or the perfect timing to have that uncomfortable but necessary conversation you want to have, because as we’ve already discussed - perfect doesn’t exist. It’s an illusion. 

 
Instead, grab those small opportunities to connect, whatever date night you can wrangle or fumble your way through the chat without the perfect timing or words. 

 Let go of the idea of the perfect relationship and embrace the prolific.

 Any effort will always be better than no effort and it will still contribute to you creating a Better Relationship.

 So join me, let’s go after better and not perfect, together.