Look for Progress not Perfection

Look for progress not perfection

That phrase or its essence is something I’ve read several times in various books or articles and it encapsulates my existence. This is how I interpret those words.

Perfection is the killer of progress.

Perfection is the enemy, it’s unattainable, it does not exist, and it’s used as a tool to destroy hope. Perfection is the I-told-you-so-persons ammunition.

Ok Dave tell me what you really think – ha.

Over 15 years ago I became a vegetarian and that transformation was not a clean cut-off. I had a guilty pleasure and that was a McDonalds quarter pounder with cheese. Even though I stopped preparing meat at home for me, some of my family still ate meat. It was a few years before I stopped “testing” to see if the turkey was cooked properly. And probably the same amount of time before I stopped eating the McDonalds burger. But I did stop and it’s been at least 12 or 13 years since I’ve eaten meat. I have progressed.

This eating journey continues and it has been almost three months since switching to a vegan diet. I’ve been pretty good so far but I had to go to Vancouver for a day and a half. On the way home we had to take the last ferry to Victoria and I had hardly eaten anything all day. So we decided to get some food and they had veggie burgers which I ordered. While I was eating the burger my daughter questioned is that mayonnaise on your burger. Umm probably but at that moment I was starved so I ate it anyways. In the big picture it is nothing. I’m still progressing.

Progression versus perfection is no more evident than in my yoga journey. If you saw my practice you’d know I’m about as far from perfection as you can get. However, my first teacher was always heard to say that every day there is progression. It may be tiny but it’s there. For me there is no truer statement about my yoga journey. I noticed almost every day some form of progress. In the beginning it was as simple as folding a millimeter closer to my feet to as revealing as the significance of my breath.

My yoga journey is all about progression. I’ve progressed physically, l’ve progressed mentally, and I’ve progressed spiritually. When I started yoga only one of those progressions was intended. The others are the dividends of that progression. There is no perfection anywhere in this journey because if there was this journey would be over.

I will never attain perfection in anything it’s a concept that’s non-existent to me. Progress is much more my speed and it’s definitely attainable.

Progressing is on topic at the beginning of a new year as many of us make health related resolutions. Progression is never a straight line. Sometimes it’s one step forward and another step forward. Sometimes it’s one step forward and two steps back. But if you think about it, you’re one step ahead – never give up.

Be safe