This past week has been another stressful one. I know I sound like a broken record, but for a while now that is how things have been. I envision the weekends as being quite productive, getting some shopping done, cleaning out the fridge, greeting the dust bunnies who have set up a wee little home under the bed. You know, ‘regular’ things that shouldn’t really present a challenge.
Well, that’s not how things have played out this weekend thus far. I tend to be very hard on myself in always feeling that I need to do everything perfectly. I think I have an attitude that if I can’t do something perfectly then I hesitate to do it at all. That’s not to say I don’t take risks with new activities; I do. It’s just that at times I feel like a deer in headlights, letting fear envelop me so that I maintain a frozen demeanor, worried about failing at even the most routine of tasks.
But you know what, I started to think about Leonard Cohen, a wonderful Canadian composer who passed on last week. He said something in his song, “Anthem” that is so incredibly poignant, and in particular, very meaningful to me:
Ring the bells that still can ring;
Forget your perfect offering;
There is a crack in everything;
That’s how the light gets in;
That’s how the light gets in.
I took the photo at the top of this post last week. It reminds me about the light getting in. Our imperfections are what make us human; we aren’t supposed to be ‘perfect’. The light (energy, source, God, the divine) gets in only because of the imperfections. It’s better to simply be who I am and not worry about some unachievable measuring stick that only superheros in movies can relate to, don’t you think?
Don Miguel Ruiz wrote a phenomenal book called, “The Four Agreements”. In it he described the four ‘themes’ we should agree to in order to have a healthier, happier, more genuinely great life. One of his agreements talks about doing your best, although your best will vary each day, based on how you are feeling, what’s going on, etc. We shouldn’t create an imaginary measuring stick to uphold every day, since the bar has to be set according to how you are doing on any given day. Maybe your best today was to get out of bed, read a book, and sip some tea. The next day your best changed quite considerably and you walked for an hour and a half!
I find this thought-provoking as well, as it allows us to set our own measuring stick, and vary it as we see fit. As long as we do our best, no matter what that looks like, that is enough.
Today I will give myself permission to set the bar at writing this post (done by the time you read this of course!), cut some coupons out of the paper, take a quick jaunt to the grocery store, and settle back down with a nice cuppa.
The light gets in and my best today is achieved.
Have a wonderful, self-bar setting, light entering weekend!
Ha – I do that all the time. I think, I’ll get up early, hit Target and Costco before all the crazies get out, go to Starbucks, the aquarium store and be back home before 1:00 so I can work on my book for several hours before having to make dinner. Sometimes, I am crazy enough to think I might vacuum and clean the salt-water tank as well. Invariably, however, it never works out that way. Because to do all that, I have to take a shower, and I procrastinate and procrastinate and before I know it, I am still in my bathrobe and it is already 1:00 and I haven’t done a darn thing. Looks like today might turn out that way. Oh, well. Maybe – tomorrow I will get my act together. And in the end, I am okay with that.
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So you know precisely what I mean, SD! You are so right; at the end of the day we must be okay with our decisions! Now, where are my robe and slippers? *grin* Cher xo
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Great thoughts Cher. We put too much pressure on ourselves. I’m off work tomorrow and Monday, yeah!!
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Thank you, John! We sure do, don’t we? Well I hope you have a fabulous two days off and have a blast! Cher xo
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If you know, you are doing your best Cher, how can either you or others demand anything extra?
It is a great book, as I read many years ago and learned much from. He has written many good books and now his son is in with books in same kind too 🙂
Wish you a lovely weekend!
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I agree, Irene! I must keep on saying that to myself!! Oh it sure is a great book, isn’t it? I didn’t know his son was an author, too! Shall investigate! And to you as well; thank you, Irene! Cher xo
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Amazing, shot. No worries, avoiding the madness is a victory.
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Ah, thank you so much, dear David! I will begin looking at the madness that way!! Cher xo
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I remember chatting to a friend who said “It drives me crazy when I do something distinctly average and not perfectly.” I told her about my struggle with dyspraxia (co-ordination, spacial awareness and memory and concentration probs) and said I’m really happy when I manage to do something average, rather than distinctly wonky! I thought I was giving her some perspective, until she said “Oh, so my unnecessarily perfect burden is your unnecessarily average burden, then.” We should all just do OUR best and and that should be good enough, basically. Cheers to setting are own bars! xx
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Brilliant, dear Chrissie! Why on earth should we put ourselves through such self-inhibiting circumstances when it is absolutely unnecessary to do so? I applaud you my dear!! Cheers to setting our own bars indeed! Thank you, Chrissie! Cher xo
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Go easy on yourself, Cher, says me, who does the same thing. Wise wise words by Ruiz.
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Ah, bless! We are similar, aren’t we, Don? 🙂 Yes, Ruiz is indeed a man of wise words!! Thank you, Don! Cher xo
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Great advice and good resolutions. I know how hard it is to be kind to yourself, but when there are crises of your own or those close to you, you have to let a lot of things go hang for a bit and set the bar in easy reach. You send uplifting thoughts and beautiful photos across the world – give yourself a pat on the back!
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Ah, bless! Thank you so much for your wonderful words, Hilary. They mean a lot to me and are truly insightful. Now, off to let things hang for a bit!! *Cher humbly pats herself on the back* Cher xo
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Good posts, beautiful blog.
Congratulations.
Welcome to see my creations:
http://paintdigi.wordpress.com
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Why thank you so kindly! Cher xo
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Reblogged this on Suzie Speaks and commented:
Something powerful to think about from Cher here! Please don’t like or comment on my reblog – hop on over to this lovely post and say hello!
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Wow, Cher!!! This is amazing! So incredibly inspirational. Thank you so much.
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Why thank you so much, Mackenzie! I really appreciate your thoughtful words!! Cher xo
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What a lovely reminder! Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves. Thanks for posting 🙂
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We certainly are, aren’t we? Thanks so much for your words! Cher xo
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So relatable! This post couldn’t have come at a better time. Your posts always make me smile. Thank you for your beautiful, loving energy!
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Ah, bless you my dear! Thank you so much! You literally made me entire week! Cher xo
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