Being quickly disappointed is one of my not so pretty traits. Today, I know that it is associated with perfectionism: my need for you to be perfect and really my need to be perfect.
This old idea causes me pain even today.
I am creating a course for teachers to support and help them. Seeing women who teach step into their best and joy of teaching is beyond words.
I have no idea what I am doing as I have spent the last 23 years being a teacher and principal and not a course creator or entrepreneur. The learning curve is steep, and I am not used to failure. If I could have it all my way, doing this new adventure would be done correctly. Instead, it is messy, filled with problems, mistakes, and I am disappointed. I want to quit, throw the towel in, and have a big pity party.
What is the solution? When I look at my motives, there are good ones, and then there is the thought of how I will look? I begin to make what is for someone else about me. Can you relate, and if so, raise your hand.
What I do must be for fun or for free. Creating this course, connecting with teachers, writing blogs, and running a Facebook group needs to either be a ton of fun or given freely with no expectation.
My expectations have been destroying my serenity and sense of service. So, what do I do?
I stop the focus on myself and what I need to seem perfect and make it about others. Each post, email, blog, course module must come from the heart and be for fun or free. There is no longer any attachment to the results. It is good enough, and it will be fun to see what happens.
What if teachers could approach their profession with this attitude? What would it be like to live and teach for fun or for free and let go of expectations? What would it be like to let go of perfectionism?
Not quite sure as I am right in the middle of this lesson myself. I promise to keep you posted as solutions unfold.
For today let’s live for fun or for free.