Good Enough is Perfect for Me So I Choose Happy
You don’t have to be perfect! And you don’t have to be perfect to Choose Happy.
There, I said it. Good enough works very well, thank you very much.
We all begin a journey by taking a single step. That step may be big or small, but we can’t begin a journey without looking at where we are starting from.
The first step is Acceptance. Choose today to Accept yourself exactly as you are, right here, right now. To begin to make changes in our lives we have to get honest and look in the mirror. We accept the way things are, and from there we begin to see what we need to do to make our lives full of self-confidence and joy. So, each day we Choose Happy, whatever the circumstances.
One of my favorite teachers, Stuart Wilde says ‘The way things are is the way things are. I accept that. In doing so it sets me free.’ I have it on a magnet on my fridge as a reminder. My brother read it one day and saw in it ‘defeatism’. He saw it as the way things are is the way they are and therefore life is futile! Wow…we had to sit down and have a chat about that.
Acceptance doesn’t mean we just resign ourselves to whatever is happening. It means that we get honest and acknowledge it.
For example, currently I’ve been accepting that I’m heavier than I like to be. I’ve been through some stresses and I admit to a bit of comfort eating! 😉
So the first thing is my clothes get a bit tight, so some clothes seem to drift to the back of the closet and I find myself wearing the same clothes each day. I was in the denial phase. I avoided the mirror (sound familiar?) And as I walked my pup each day I noticed the up-hill part of our daily routine was getting a bit harder and I was puffing a bit more.
Finally, I decided to get real with me. I stood in front of the mirror in an outfit that I love, but the outfit was just too tight. Okay? That’s when Acceptance began.
I said to myself ‘Self (teehee) you have put on some weight and your clothes don’t fit. Does that make you feel good about you?’
Obviously the answer was NO!
I Choose Happy not perfect. I Accept the way things are and set myself free to be Happy!
I was uncomfortable and I wasn’t happy with me. So, the first things I did was: I went out and bought some new clothes that fit nicely. Wearing clothes that are too tight makes me feel bad about me. To feel good again I just bought a few things a size up, that looked lovely, fitted nicely and guess what? I started to Accept me again. I feel good about me again. (Starting of course with some new bras!!!)
Not perfection…Acceptance. This is how I am right now and I’m looking after and taking care of me. I Choose Happy!
This led to…going out and getting some really good running shoes. Now when I walk the dog I have good support. Which led to someone coming into my life who suggested I start running. She even gave me a running regime to follow. And…I’ve started following it.
I’m not avoiding the mirror, because my clothes fit and I look good…just a bit heavier. I’m in Acceptance.
And from here comes the change…
I’m exercising more, which is leading to being more careful about what I eat. Which in turn is leading to my feeling better. As we exercise, feel good hormones are generated in our fabulous bodies. So, I am feeling better…so I’m not comfort eating.
Get it?
Acceptance is getting real. And that’s the first step on the Choose Happy program.
So today, let’s accept that ‘good enough is perfect for me’ and let the rest go. By being kind to ourselves, we allow better to flow to us.
Now, what’s step two? I’ll tell you next time.
In the meantime, I’d love to help you get started to Choose Happy. Go here to find out how you can start your journey to Happiness and Choose Happy now.
Love it! It’s so easy to get stuck in denial especially for us ladies when it comes to our size! I love how once you got into acceptance, the universe lined things up to help you out. That’s a great lesson!
Thanks lovely. I’m embracing my fabulocity and it’s made me feel alive and vibrant…there’s nothing more attractive than confidence!
Beautifully expressed. I like how you accept who you are, went out and got new clothes & shoes and as a result, the rest fell into place naturally.
We all need to be loving and nurturing to ourselves. Thanks for the reminder. ~Debra
We are often so good at coaching others to be kind, we forget about ourselves. Glad to be the reminder guide and use me as an example instead of a client. Choose Happy!
Thanks for the reminder. Your smile shows your inner happiness is real. Much love and thanks! xoxoxooxoxoxox
Thanks lovely! You are most welcome. Come back and visit again. xox
wonderful message
AMEN, and PREACH IT lovely Jacqueline! “So, each day we Choose Happy, whatever the circumstances.” This phrase really spoke to me, as well as acceptance being the first step…Isn’t it funny how when we finally decide to open our eyes and accept things as they are, they then start getting better almost as if by magic? I loved this post, so inspirational! And you look pretty marvelous in that chic black dress, if you don’t mind my saying so 🙂 YAY!
Yes Jacqueline! And you’re right, acceptance doesn’t mean resignation, it’s simply acknowledging where we are and that’s already a huge thing 🙂 Thanks lovely!
Great post!!
I have to admit that at first I cringed when I saw “good enough”, but you totally won me over with accepting what is. You have to start from there and accepting something is way better then ignoring it or making yourself wrong for it.
You Rock!
LOL! I hear you…it took me a while to get it, but I’m so happy, now I have to share. Thanks lovely!
Ahhh, yes. Surrendering to what is allows it to flow through our life without getting stuck. So beautiful. Thank you.
And some days, it’s surrender every 15 minutes or so! But it works…xox
This puts me in mind of one of my favorite and most motivating expressions: “never let ‘perfect’ be the enemy of ‘done’.” Good enough sometimes really is good enough! Great post!
Ooh…I love that. Thank you Jessica, I’ll definitely be adding that to my fave list too.
Jacqueline,
Such a beautiful, inspiring, and important post… the “acceptance” was done in LOVE for self (your example) which allowed you to surrender and then move forward toward what you desired! You loved your way through it rather than beat yourself up, which most likely would have caused you to do more comfort eating. You almost brought me to tears with this… love it. Thank you 😉
Thank you Kelly. I’m so glad it touched you. Remember to love yourself first … xox
Love your story, few months ago I was heavier and bigger than I’ve ever been in my life, even when I felt that I’m overweight I was skinny comparing to what I look now but to my surprise this was the first time when I fully accepted myself and even loved unconditionally my wobbly bits. The thing is I want my clothes back that I put on a special shelf and now I’m buying new clothes that are a half-size smaller and work myself into them, it works wonders for me.
Wonderful. Thank you for sharing your story Inga. The power of love!
Jacqueline – this is my favorite post of yours. So open and positive and happy and motivating. I’m running right along with you!
Thank you lovely. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! And yes, let’s run together.
“How are you?”
. Not as bad as some…better,n most.
From the movie, “The Crow”
Good Peter, really good. Choose Happy and make today fabulous!