Ellen Besso Coaching

“Mistakes are the currency with which we buy tickets to the life-ride. No mistakes, no ride” Molly Gordon

Molly Gordon, coach and writer is a very honest, transparent person. In one of her 2007 newsletters Molly told her readers that she lived much of her life “as though it were more important to be right than happy” and that mistakes drove her to “agonies of self- criticism”. I wonder how many of us are like that? I’m guessing quite a few!

At times I have an obsession for detail and for “getting it just right”. I’m able to pick up on this trait of mine more these days fortunately. Then I can do something about it. I believe it’s a futile attempt on my part to bring order, safety and control into my life. It works to a certain extent when I have a presentation to prepare or am writing an article or website text. But there comes a point when we need to decide that “enough is enough”. So I now consult with my partner to get a reality check and I tend to stop earlier in my process than before. In other words, I give myself permission to be imperfect more often!

Scott and Ryan of Angles for Creative Solutions have found that there’s a relationship between procrastination, perfectionism, and action. They help their clients figure out where on the triangle they are currently positioned. This helps them balance all sides of the triangle. They find that often one or two of the three are overemphasized and also that procrastination and perfectionism are combined. I think that’s quite common. I know I have a touch of that. If I don’t begin it, it can’t be wrong can it?

So I challenge myself and you to notice when we are hesitating to do something for fear of making a mistake, or doing it wrong. And if it feels like something that excites us as well as makes us nervous, I encourage all of us to just go ahead and begin.

Keep in mind what Goethe said:

“Whatever you believe you can do, or dream you can – begin it. Boldness has genius, power & magic to it.”