Extraordinary Lessons for an Ordinary Gal

I first heard the expression "Done beats perfect" in Life on Fire Academy  (a coaching program with a group of Christian entrepreneurs that I participate in).  This expression reminds me that all my adventures in life really gigantic works in progress.
 
Too often, we tell ourselves that we will finish that masterpiece as soon as it's painted perfectly or we'll chase that big dream when the time is just right.

But what happens when we put things off, shying away from even trying?

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When we don't clinch our teeth, take those first steps, and walk toward meaningful goals in life, well, we get stuck in "If Only" Land.  

The good news is that we can adjust our mindset.  We can reassure ourselves that small, imperfect efforts really do add up to something big and take us closer to where we really want to be.

I wonder if you have a dream?  Or if there is something so personal that stirs your heart and lights you on fire?  What's  holding you back?

Can you give yourself permission:

• to take a shot at it
• to put yourself out there
• to be a contributing voice
• to start running toward your dreams
• to discover God's mission for you 
• to serve others from your heart
• to take a baby step in the right direction
• to focus on learning as you go
• to ditch the "imposter syndrome"
• to believe that the end will take care of itself

I've not known many college students who take exams and score 100s every single time.  But we can indeed say that every single student who earned 100% or 90% or 80% or 70% or 60% or 20% or 1% turned in the exam.  They did their best and then said, "I'm done.  Here it is."

And that's the way we can accomplish great and marvelous feats in life.  We put forth our best effort knowing this is what matters most.  God will take care of the end result for us.  We yoke ourselves up with Christ and listen to Him say, "Let's go."  

The individual steps it takes to do anything great do NOT have to be perfect.  Once we finish the race or hit the bull's eye, however, we will look back over our shoulders and see that had we made PERFECTION our daily goal, we might not have launched from the starting block.  We will remember that each day we did our best to dedicate our efforts, although imperfect, to God, saying to Him,  "I'm done.  Here it is."

And what God does in return is miraculous. 
It's kinda like what happens in my Spanish classes.  The end result takes care of itself.  If students keep telling themselves, "I must have an A.  I must have an A.  I must have an A", they waste so much time and energy focusing on the end result, leaving themselves little room to pay attention to the PROCESS. 

I encourage them to focus on the PROCESS (studying, memorizing, exploring, learning through trial and error); and I reassure them that if they focus on the process, the end result (overall course grade) will take care of itself.  

This is what God will do for us.  Our job is to advance forward completing (even if imperfectly!) tiny tasks each day--And then we leave the rest to God.  

Be sure to tune in to Episode 052 of the Choose 2 Think Podcast where I unpack 3 other lessons learned in 2020.    And if you haven't subscribed to the podcast, rated, and written a 1-2 sentence review, you can do so here.  This would help me continue to press forward!