Every few pages in Neil Pasricha’s book Two Minute Mornings he will have a page of quoted research on happiness, journaling, etc. There is also surprise “drop in” quotes/sayings. After writing in the journal this morning, turning the page to prepare for tomorrow there was a quote on the bottom right: The goal is not to be perfect. The goal is to be better than before.
Various versions of that can be found on the internet. There is a version that ends these (nearly) daily writings. The thing is not just to read a quote, copy a quote, write a quote, journal a quote, copy and paste a quote. Instead think about it. Process it. Stick with it for a bit. There is a reason these writings are all ended with the same three sentences. A reminder. A reinforcement of a goal.
Here is the thing, each time I write, it is done with more intention. More thought. A desire to double check the work. To pause. To write. Yet write with purpose. That is not how it started. It started to get the hurt out. To put thoughts and feelings down. To get out of my head. To get it out of my head. Self-doubt, negative talk, self-deprecating “humor”, “it’s not good enough”, “no one will read it”… had any of that been allowed in, this would not exist.
There is no “better than before” if there is no before. The potential problem with pausing could be procrastination. Far too many years were spent in the wrong kind of pause. Now, the pause is not debilitating. The pause is for clarity. Double checking. Second checking. Re-reading. Improvement.
Picking up the remote and clicking on the TV is easier. At least, it use to be. In that before there was no improvement. There was stagnation. The before lead to repeating the previous behavior of not doing. A body in motion tends to stay in motion. A body at rest tends to stay at rest.
Energy was not being created or expended. Like a nuclear reactor, harmless and quiet, until there is a leak. Then all heck breaks loose. People scramble and run away. Or you can release the energy created, slowly, purposefully. Create a checklist and perform daily maintenance to keep things running well, properly, better. Fix problems before they occur.
Do not worry about quality. Do not think about anything other than creating. No situation improves or gets better until you start. Then you can look back at the before and better appreciate the now. Then the now soon becomes the new before. On and on the cycle repeats. Yet, you keep getting better.
Now, define your better.
Posted. Not Perfect.
A Vegan Father, navigating a non-vegan world.
A Better Father 