I AM ENOUGH: Battling Perfectionism

Do you struggle with feeling "good enough"? What does it take to be "enough"?

For this week's Fit Dish link-up, we are discussing "ENOUGHNESS":


Feeling like I am "good enough" has been an ongoing battle for me. For much of my life, I have viewed my value based on my performance, how other people view me (hello, people-pleaser!) and striving to do everything perfectly.

Perfectionism shows itself in a few different forms including procrastination, performancism and people-pleasing. Performancism and people-pleasing are the main struggles for me creating thoughts like this:

Do more! You're not doing enough.

Try harder. Then everyone will be happy.

Why try something new? I don't want to chance being a failure.

Striving for perfection is a mess. It's an unattainable goal. An exhausting battle. A total joy-sucker. It makes you more judgmental, joyless, stressed out, bitter, angry, self-condemning and enslaved by the fear of failure.

The worst part is it's a monster that's impossible to please. After achieving the goal, the striving cycle moves on to the next target. The high for a perfectionist is short-lived and then it sends them on to pursue more perfection.

A perfectionist feels like they are NEVER ENOUGH. 

But there is HOPE and FREEDOM from perfectionism and there is a healthy way to strive to do your best!

My freedom came when I surrendered my life to God and started a new life in Jesus Christ. I'm far from having my perfectionist thoughts kicked, but now I can call out the self-defeating thoughts, replace them with God's truth and move forward.


God calls us to give our best effort in everything we do. The key is that He doesn't want our work to define who we are. Our performance - good or bad - does not change God's love for us!
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. COLOSSIANS 3:23-24
Let's dig into God's Word to see what He has to say about the value of His children:

The Truth About Being ENOUGH


I am CHOSEN by God.
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. JOHN 15:16
I am God's DAUGHTER.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 JOHN 3:1
I am God's MASTERPIECE.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. EPHESIANS 2:10
I have VICTORY in this life.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:57
I am FREE from condemnation.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ROMANS 8:1-2
My value isn't found in my day job, physical appearance, athletic performance, season of life, social status, house size or what other people think of me.

I AM ENOUGH because I belong to GOD!

Living in God's love and grace helps me to be loving and gracious to others. This freedom allows His children live with less pressure, more peace and more joy. We are able to live bravely and to boldly follow where God is leading us without the fear of failure!
“God needs obedience, obviously, but God isn’t hanging a standard over us saying ‘Just try harder, and then I’ll love you.'”

God calls us to obey because He already loves us! The free gift of salvation is just that. We didn’t earn it and we can’t un-earn it.
Kathi Lipp in Rejecting Perfectionism
Listen to full broadcast on Rejecting Perfectionism on My Faith Radio.

Do you or have you struggled with perfectionism?
How do you know you are "enough"?

Linking up with Jessica and Jill on the Fit Dish and Fitness Friday. #dishthefit #believeiamenough

Comments

  1. Beautiful post Amy and what a great reminder! It all belongs to him, we need to be good stewards of our resources :) I hope you are still feeling well!

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  2. So powerfully said! You're right about the feelings of a perfectionist...really, they will never feel like they are enough. Such a great point! And, looking at our lives through God's eyes makes everything so different. Thanks for the post!

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  3. I'm a recovering perfectionist Amy and I have to say letting go of the constant expectation of perfection is so so liberating.

    Beautiful heartfelt post. Thank you.

    Would you mind including a link back to my blog as well as Jess'. Trying all we can do to spread the word to grow our family. Thanks a bunch!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love this! I too struggle with perfectionism, and this post is so encouraging!

    ReplyDelete

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