More things we can choose over perfection.

Wow, friend. Thank you so much for joining me in last week's focus on choosing things like courage, improvement, helpfulness, and enjoyment over perfection. It was so great to hear your experiences with this sort of thing and know I'm not alone in this.

As I was practicing our focus outside of class, I started to notice more things I'd like to choose over perfection.

Side note: I'm pretty sure I could focus on just one of any of these ideas (for example: courage over perfection) for a year and still learn more and more. So please always feel free to zoom in on and stick with any part of any focus, for any length of time (or circle back to it). Me moving onto another inspiration is by no means a signal that I've mastered the previous thing--haha.

Ok, so wanna hear the new ones? :)

This week, let's explore what happens when we choose:

Authenticity over perfection.

This past year, I started exploring using AI in a variety of ways. It's such a powerful and amazing tool! In our house, we started out using it as a way to research things. Soon, I started using it for all sorts of stuff, from recipes, to how-to instructions, to helping me analyze and objectively grade a book report that Rowan wrote had written based on typical US 5th grade standards. It was the first time I used AI for homeschool grading purposes, and it was amazingly helpful. The breakdown of the grading rubric was very thorough, and the feedback/edits were wonderful. Writing is not something I've ever felt strong at personnaly, so I was grateful for the professional guidance, and soon started to wonder if AI could help give me feedback about my own personal writings too. Sure enough, it could! And whoa was there feedback. There were a million suggestions for how to improve the flow, fix grammatical errors, etc. .....BUT...... when I would follow the editing suggestions, I would find that I'd lose my authentic voice. Sure the writing would be more polished, intelligent, and professional sounding..... BUT..... it didn't feel like me anymore. It sounded.... well... more robotic... and.... generic. AND.... the whole process of turning in my writing and receiving edits was leaving me feeling less and less confident about using my own messy voice. I realized pretty quickly that I needed to stop worrying about getting to a perfect draft, and instead just focus on talking with you the way I always do. Here I am. Here's an idea for us to explore this week. Here's my overuse of commas and exclamation points. But... here I am. This is me. Raw. Unpolished, Unfiltered. Unedited. Imperfect? Yes. But filled with curiosity, heart, and sincerity. I'm really glad I was able to quickly get back to embracing my imperfect authenticity with my weekly email.... BUT.... there are still other ways I hold back hoping to be able to have more time to share a more perfect version. So leaning into choosing authenticity over perfection is something I'm really looking forward to practicing more of.

How about you, friend? Are there ways you could further embrace sharing your imperfect, but unique and authentic self?

Connection over perfection.

I want to show up for people in my life who are hurting, grieving, or going through a hard time. But to be honest, sometimes I stop myself because I fear I'll say or do the wrong thing. Sometimes I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to bring over. I don't know if I should text or call or swing by. I don't know how to get it just right.

How about you, friend? Do you ever hold back showing up and showing you care out of fear that you might not say or do the perfect thing? What if we lean into showing up anyway? What if we show up unsure but with a heart full of love? What if we choose connection over perfection and send the text anyway, or stop by with a hug anyway, or drop off a meal anyway? Sure, we might get something about it wrong. But what if we choose connection anyway? What if, instead of worrying about being perfect at it, we just choose to show we care?

Creative flow over perfection.

l have lists and lists of creative ideas that have come to me on walks, or while doing the dishes, or driving in the car. Posts I'll make someday. Reels I'd love to make. Promo videos to help spread the word about Aya. Ways I'd love to update the website. Etc. etc. etc.... Things I'm going to do down the road, someday, when I have more time and can do it just right. Sometimes, it feels like there is this incredible flow that I'm unfortunately putting a stop to (until I can do whatever it is more perfectly). At times, it feels like I'm holding whatever it is ---- Aya, creativity, spirit, inspiration, goodness, flow, joy, etc.---- back. Like I'm some sort of bottleneck where ideas/inspiration go and get stuck.

How about you? Do you ever hold back on a creative idea or inspiration until that magical day you'll have more time to put it out there perfectly? What if, instead of putting on the brakes, we choose to let ourselves just stay in the flow and keep that creativity moving through? Instead of letting the ideas pile up, we let everything keep floooooowing? Even if it's imperfect?

Today... NOW... over perfection.

I can't even being to count the number of times I wait to do something thinking I'll have more time later so that I can do a better job at whatever it is. It could be as simple as responding to a text or email. I'll think, ooh-- I really want to write a long, thoughtful response to that. I can't do that right now, so I'll do it later. And then sometimes dayyyyyyys go by. Sometimes I get embarrassed that it has taken me so long to reply, and because of my embarrassment procrastinate even longer! Oy. But what if I didn't wait to be able to do it more perfectly? What if I replied right now? Instantly? What if it is quick and messy....but I did it?

How about you? Do you ever put things off until you can do it more perfectly? What if, instead of waiting, you just give it your best go right here, right now?

Alright, friend. So that's what we'll be playing with this week.

Authenticity over perfection.

Connection over perfection.

Creative flow over perfection.

Today... NOW... over perfection.

Don't those sound great too? Thoughts? Do any of those especially jump out at you?

And then, as an embodiment practice, let's really keep diving into: how do these choices (approaches, explorations, foci) feel in your body? What do you sense? What do you notice? What happens in your body when you shift from wanting to do something perfectly, to choosing ___________ instead?

As always, I can't wait to see what we discover. See you soon!

Much love,

Dani