Letting go of perfection is a lot like practicing acceptance. For both, you have to be willing to let go of control. You have to be willing to accept the present.
You also have to be willing to acknowledge that there is no such thing as perfection.
There’s no such thing as “the right way” or what you’re “supposed to” do. And there’s nothing wrong with just figuring things out as you go.
If any of this is something you struggle with, keep reading for a Love List full of ways you can learn to let go of perfection by using light pink*! 
51 Ways to Let Go of Perfection
Do It.
My color for 2018 is gold. At the end of 2017, I said I wanted to boldly (and loudly) more of myself (and my abilities) out into the world. And because God and the Universe like to hold you to your word, my first two opportunities came in January!
Last fall, I joined a business mastermind at a local women’s community. Before the end of the year, I was asked to participate in their New Year’s workshop! My role would be to help everyone pick a color based on their word for the year.
I wasn’t just nervous. I WAS SUPER NERVOUS! The day of the first workshop I was like, “Can I do this? Do these women care to hear from me?! WHERE IS JESUS AND MY INHALER!?!?!?”
So I did what I always do when I’m nervous, I made a list that became my introduction. And I proceeded to over explain why I do what I do LOL!
But I did it!
They had such a demand for the workshop that it was offered twice. I didn’t have to do it both times but I said I would in an effort to do what I said I was going to do…put myself out there more.
For me, the second time went better for several reasons: 1) I already did it once, 2) I didn’t do my over the top introduction, and 3) I had more info about how this group arrived at their words (because i was a part of this group)!
4) I spoke to entire my department (30-40 people)….about Love U Too in between those workshops. I freaked out that day too but it was more like, “Can I do this?! I have to see them after this! WHERE IS JESUS WITH MY INHALER?!?! Maybe I can fake an injury….”
Halfway through my introduction, I realized I didn’t need it. And when I just had to show off my work, I felt on fire….I mean I was hot because I was nervous but I was feeling good by that point!
I had been very reluctant to share Love U Too with too many coworkers. I am an Art Director working with other Art Directors and Designers (and Copywriters). I was quite literally putting myself and my work up on the summer jam screen for all to see and judge.
In the end, nobody died…..and by nobody, I mean me! I received a lot of positive comments and I learned that people are genuinely interested in finding out how to use colors for self love. Even without me telling them why they should care! 🙂
Like Nike has been saying for years, JUST DO IT!
- Make the appointment
- Launch your thing
- Try something new
- Be honest with yourself
- Focus on the positive
- Learn from your mistakes
- Tell someone else
- Be nice to yourself
- Stop comparing
- Find a support group (or mastermind)
- Figure it out as you go
- Explore your beliefs (and if they’re holding you back)
- Make your own plan
- Start small
- Believe in yourself
- Track your progress (with a Love Tracker)
- Write down every idea
Be Flexible.
Last summer, I decided I wanted to get serious about improving my overall health.
In November, I decided to return to eating “90% vegetarian” in 2018 because I knew it would help with some issues I was been having.
In December, a friend suggested we join another friend in doing the Daniel Fast for the full month of January. I don’t normally do fasts but after looking it up, I thought it was similar to 22 Day Nutrition so I agreed.
For some reason, I thought it would be really easy….which is funny considering I’ve been trying to return to eating mostly vegetarian for a while now!
So you might thinking that I fell off the wagon in January.
Well let me just tell you that it went GREAT! I got such a good handle on my self-control that I could look at (and smell) beautiful, crispy bacon without ordering it.
I ended up mostly missing eggs and meat broths. I even managed to keep my stress levels down!
Then there was February. I had no idea it would be full of late nights and weekend work. And unfortunately, I didn’t even prepare myself for that possibility.
If you’ve ever changed your eating habits, you know it takes a lot of planning. If you’ve ever tried to eat healthy AND vegetarian or vegan, you know it takes ALL the planning!
Halfway through the month, everything went smooth off the rails including keeping my stress under control. I spent most of February eating out, eating (healthy) meat, and being stressed out.
Past Dominique had the time to dive head first into vegetarian cuisine, but present Dominique has entirely too much going on. For the time being, I have to keep it simple (and healthy) by going back to eating lean and slow cooked* meats instead. And that’s okay.
It’s okay to have a plan but don’t get so wrapped up in that plan that you wind up stressing yourself out. Always allow yourself space to be flexible:
- Do what you can
- Focus on one thing at a time
- Accept the present
- Ask for help
- Have a backup plan
- Switch up your routines
- Revisit an old passion
- Start over
- Pick up where you left off
- Get inspired
- Find a new way to stay focused
- Be social
- Accept that everyone is different
- Be nice to yourself
- Forgive yourself
Take It Easy.
In Love U With Color: Light Pink, I mentioned painting my toes light pink as a reminder to actually relax during my vacation.
At the beginning of 2018, I spend a couple months trying to plan a trip for April or May with no luck. Then I remembered I have a friend who owns a travel company*! Not only that, she offers a program where you can let her plan your entire trip AND you can choose for it to be a complete surprise.
For someone as anxious as me, a surprise vacation may sound irrational but I’m practicing letting go of control (see above)….and I hired an expert for a reason.
This alone was a big deal but my lesson in taking it easy (and letting go of perfection) didn’t actually come until I reached my destination….Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!!!!
Unless you’re new here, you know that I’m a busy body. Even on vacation, I tend to do entirely too much trying to make the most of my stay. So I kept telling myself that I was not going to run myself ragged trying to explore as much as possible.
She made this very easy for me to do because my hotel ended up being an adult only, all-inclusive resort. And the only planned activity I had was a downtown taco tour. The rest of the time, I was free to do whatever or nothing at all.
But me being me, I had a plan. I was going to check in, change clothes, and then explore the resort. My room wasn’t ready when I arrived so I had lunch instead. Once I got into my room, I changed, sat down to put on my sandals, laid down, annnddddd then I fell asleep!
I’m a very light sleeper but I slept with my balcony door open while a pool party went on down below. I was OUT! After my nap, I watched the sunset before going to dinner.
That nap set the tone for the rest of the trip. Each day, I decided what I wanted to do but I did not get fixated on the plan. I spent most of my trip at the resort by the pool, by the beach, or in a restaurant/bar. And even when I explored the downtown area, I did it leisurely.
I think this was the most relaxing vacation I’ve ever had!
I usually keep going and going until I’m too tired to do anything else so don’t be like me, take it easy:
- Sit down somewhere
- Take a nap
- Go to sleep
- Turn off your alarm
- Touch something soft
- Do something relaxing
- Feel your feelings
- Meditate
- Listen to your body
- Eat something
- Take a personal day
- Take a social media break
- Get a spa or salon treatment
- Go to sleep
- Write in your journal
- Take a long bath or shower
- Light candles or incenses
- Drink some tea
- Get some fresh air
Your worth is not wrapped up in how close you get to “perfection”! You are good enough because of your efforts…not in spite of them. And you are deserving of kindness, understanding, and space to figure out what’s best for U.
How can you let go of perfection? Tell me in the comments below!
Want to learn more about light pink?
Join the Color Library to gain access to in-depth self-acceptance and color therapy advice, plus receive new digital wallpaper every month.
*If you haven’t read Love U With Color: Light Pink, you should. Going forward, I’m replacing all Operation Love U posts with a post about the color used in the message so you can start using it right away!
**I did 22-Day Nutrition for almost 2 months in 2015!
*** If you’d like to learn more about Dynamite Travel and the Dynamite Adventure Club, click here. If you book a trip, let her know I sent you 😉
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