Rediscovering Fun on the Path from Perfection

"Life is short. Smile while you still have teeth." ~ Mallory Hopkins

The live event is just a few days away. It's been weeks since I looked at my script. I haven't practised.

There is no way this is going to be anything other than imperfect.

And I'm okay with that.

I've come far enough on this journey to learn to be content with good enough.

It was in this moment of self-acceptance that my mentor dropped a simple truth bomb on me. She said one of her values for this experience was for it to be fun.

I paused, a little taken aback. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks – I hadn't even considered fun as an option. I'd been so focused on making this the best it could be, or being okay with it being good enough, that the idea of having fun along the way had completely escaped me.

Me taking it far too seriously on the Embodied Facilitator Course in 2020

Don't Take It Too Seriously

"If you're really serious about your spiritual development...you might be doing it wrong."

Jamie Cato's words made me giggle and they also resonated deeply within me. Here was another reminder that sometimes we get so wrapped up in self-improvement that we forget to take a step back and enjoy the journey.

Like my recent experience on a hula hoop intensive...yep, I spent a week getting far too serious about playing with a plastic circle. There aren't many photos of me that week because I spent the week on the brink of tears, my brow furrowed in concentration, in the company of others who were far more experienced than me. It triggered all my "I'm not good enough" anxieties, and I struggled to let go and simply have fun.

There's Something Beyond Ease

When I ask other recovering perfectionists, over-strivers, and control freaks what they long for, most people say something along the lines of ease, spaciousness, or room to breathe. I feel that in my body too - the yearning for something softer than the rigid self-brutalisation of perfectionism.

Me remembering that I can be silly even as I turned 40!

But I wonder if we all suffer from the same myopia. The opposite of perfectionism isn't ease, it's fun, playfulness and curiosity; ease is merely coming back to centre.

What would this look like if I allowed myself to have more fun?

What if, in those times it gets hard, I could remember to smile and even find a way to play?

What could be possible if I prioritised enjoyment as much as achievement?

It's an important reminder for me as I continue to hula hoop. Yes, I want to be "good" but that's not the reason I started hooping. I wanted something I could play with away from a screen. It's a practice to help me embody more playfulness, more silliness and more fun. So that's how I need to show up for it. There's no point doing it if I just practice perfectionism while throwing a plastic circle around.

If you're reading this and finding it relatable, whether it's about the struggle to have fun or any other quality that feels challenging to access, I invite you to join me on this journey. Ask yourself: "What would this look like if I was having a little bit more fun?" Embrace the possibility that fun, enjoyment, and pleasure can coexist with your pursuit of excellence, even when facing challenges.

In the pursuit of excellence, let's not forget the magic that unfolds when we allow ourselves to simply have fun. Here's to a journey filled with laughter, playfulness, and the sweet satisfaction of knowing that 'good enough' is more than enough. Oh, and let's remember it could also be fun!

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to hear from you and continue this conversation.