I finished reading The Cure for the “Perfect” Life last night. Oh, my, do I need to read over, digest, and implement several of the chapters.
These concepts I’ve learned before but the way Kathi and Cheri put them together sits right with me. I get it, now.
The other day I was reading in Genesis and the 4 P’s (Perfectionism, performancism, people-pleasing, and procrastination) were on my mind. Adam and Eve were perfect, had the perfect relationship with God, and lived in the perfect place. Nice! But, a serpent came along and whispered lies, deception, and half-truths to Eve. She listened and acted on those lies. Adam went along with her and the perfectness ended. Their first acts were to hide (fear) and then to cover themselves with leaves (shame).
I feel fear and shame when I listen to what these Ps whisper in my ear. These are lies I learned early on in a pastor’s home; to be perfect, to perform, and to please. The same deception continues today as in the garden.
Isn’t wanting to be perfect or thinking that what I do must be perfect trying to be like God – the same lie Satan wanted Adam and Eve to believe? My belief that my writing or my speaking or my parenting should be perfect paralyzes me to the point of not doing it at all.
Just what that serpent in the garden wanted. Destroy God’s plan.
If I don’t do what God has called me to and I wait until I can do it perfectly then I am not affective in reaching out to others with the message of hope, healing, and restoration. My game playing, researching endless topics, and keeping up on Facebook only serve the P- god procrastination.
So, one step, even 5 minutes toward my goal kicks that P to the curb. What’s that commercial say? “A body in motion stays in motion”.
Quoting from the book:
“I think a lot of people feel like they aren’t burying talents when they are just putting them off, but the truth is that if you aren’t using them now, you aren’t using them.
God is telling us not only to stop ignoring our talents, but to stop postponing our talents. Stop waiting until you are fearless – you never will be- but do as much as you can with what you have. That’s brave living.” – Kathi Lipp from The Cure for the “Perfect Life”
So here’s my brave act for today – my imperfect blog.
Just do it!
About the Book:
Website Link: http://www.TheCureForThePerfectLife.com
FREE download of Chapter 1: http://www.thecurefortheperfectlife.com/downloads/chapter1.pdf
Facebook Page (aka “Braver Living Rebel Headquarters”):
http://www.Facebook.com/TinyActsOfRebellion
