“But I want to be Perfect”: Learning about Perfectionism

Trying to be perfect is hard Learning about Perfectionism.

Jane has decided that she wants to learn how to play soccer. I have played and coached, so I am excited she is interested. I first gave her a lesson about the parts of the foot she should use and what parts of the foot are not great to use and why. That part went well.

Then we went outside to kick the ball back and forth. It was fine at first, but as soon as she started to feel like she wasn’t good at it,  But I want to be Perfect”: Learning about Perfectionism the tears began to fall and she resisted the whole idea of soccer.

Eventually instead of kicking the ball she folded her arms and looked down at the ground upset.

I didn’t want to push her and have bad memories of our first attempt at playing, so I said we could be done. We maybe had been playing for five minutes.

When we came in, she was still upset.

“Jane, you don’t have to play soccer. It is okay.”

“But I do want to learn soccer, but I am not good at it.”

“You have to start somewhere, Jane. You don’t have to be perfect.”

Then the floodgates really started. “But I want to be perfect at it like you.”

This comment made me laugh and then I explained that I am far from perfect at anything and that I practiced for 10+ years, so that is why I can play better than her.

When she started to understand, a thought came to my mind. This is how I feel sometimes. God is perfect and I am so far from that that I want to fold my arms and give up, but He wants me to remember that I am here to practice and , slowly, little by little I can become perfected and, like soccer, or anything, it can be fun to learn and grow at something.

Let us remember that our pursuit of perfection should draw us closer to God, not further away. We can learn from the perfect teacher if we will let him give us the lessons we need. I hope Jane will let me help her and now I need to let Heavenly Father help me face my challenges that sometimes seem impossible.

Continuing to try is success and failure is giving up and ignoring those that can be our greatest supporters.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

Best,
Lucy Bowman