In a world that often glorifies flawless achievements and instant success, it’s easy to fall into the trap of striving for perfection in all aspects of our lives, including our mental health journey. However, the pursuit of an unattainable ideal can often lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and discouragement. It’s crucial to shift our focus from the rigid goal of perfection to the more realistic and empowering concept of progress. Mental well-being is not a fixed destination but rather an ongoing journey with its inevitable ups and downs.
I take part in a sport (LudoSport) that I love to be with. My goal with them is 1% better every day. Every time I get my uniform on, and grab my light saber, I aim to take on the feedback I’ve had, and improve. And mental health and perfection is a bit like that. Constant feedback, and you may or may not reach perfection, and you may or may not realise it.
I think it’s important too though, to acknowledge that ‘perfection’ is usually unattainable – in the coming days and weeks we’ll be talking inner happiness, and how to find joy – and the secrets of that. I’m an author that writes sci-fi, fantasy and self-help, and my 1% better every day mantra is about progress.
Embracing progress over perfection allows us to acknowledge and celebrate small steps forward. Instead of feeling defeated by setbacks, we can view them as learning opportunities and part of the natural ebb and flow of life. This mindset fosters self-compassion and resilience. It encourages us to be kinder to ourselves when we don’t meet an imagined ideal and to recognize the effort we are putting in, no matter how small it may seem. Focusing on progress also promotes a more sustainable approach to well-being, as it acknowledges that growth often happens gradually, through consistent effort rather than sudden leaps.
Ultimately, the beauty of the mental health journey lies not in reaching a state of flawless well-being, but in the continuous process of learning, growing, and adapting. By shifting our focus to progress, we can cultivate a more positive and encouraging internal dialogue. We can celebrate our resilience, acknowledge our efforts, and find satisfaction in the small victories along the way. This shift in perspective can alleviate the pressure of perfectionism and allow us to embrace the ongoing and evolving nature of our mental well-being.
The key to a healthy mental health journey lies in embracing progress over the unrealistic pursuit of perfection. By acknowledging small steps, practicing self-compassion, and celebrating our efforts, we can cultivate a more sustainable and empowering path towards well-being.
D Kai Wilson-Viola has been running mental health websites since 2003. She is an author, artist, coder, formatter and mental health advocate. In her spare time she reads, plays games and participates in LudoSport, at LudoSport Gloucestershire and LudoSport Bristol. A passionate advocate for mental health, she’s been running two of her sites for over 20 years – Kaiberie.com where she talks writing, and bi-polarbears.com where she talks mental health. She is also the co-founder of one of the oldest indie writers’ groups on Facebook, in the Indie Author Group.
She lives with her adult daughter, her beloved other half, Tempus and two cats. The boss in the house is yet to be decided, though Kai’s pretty sure it’s the cats.
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