The Tough Choice All Life Editors Must Make

My clients like to fight me. A lot.

No, they’re not putting on their boxing gloves and knocking me out of the ring. They’re not chasing after me with baseball bats or cornering me in dark alleys.

But they fight me in other ways.

They’ll promise me during our calls that they’ll do all their homework, but a week later I’ll discover that they decided to eat Cheetos on the couch instead.

They’ll beg for my advice about how to break down their overwhelming projects, but then do the exact opposite of what I suggested.

They’ll look me in the eye (we do video calls) and say “No way! I’m not doing that. Tell me how to get the results I want without doing the work, taking responsibility, or being an adult.”

By the time I hang up the calls, I’m emotionally black and blue.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE my clients and I truly want the best for them. I just have to remind myself that they’re not really fighting me—they’re fighting themselves.

The vast majority of my clients—and Life Editors in general—know exactly what they need to do to reach their goals. Break up with your abusive partner, throw out the junk food, start writing your book, raise your prices, go to sleep!

But knowing what you need to do and actually doing it are two very different things. And it’s not laziness that’s stopping them.

The mindsets and beliefs that hold them back usually involve the need to be perfect.

  • She won’t go to the gym where people can see her because she doesn’t like the way she looks.
  • She refuses to make her website live because it’s not as flashy as that other entrepreneur’s site.
  • She doesn’t want to clean her house because then her friends will come over and see all her old-fashioned furniture.
  • She won’t do her marketing because she’s afraid people will make fun of her and her business.
  • She won’t get a divorce because she doesn’t think anyone else will love her.

These were all limiting beliefs that caused my clients to push back against my advice.

Fighting me was easier than admitting that they needed to suck it up and take responsibility for their own happiness.

Because when you come right down to it, DOING SOMETHING is always better than sitting on your hands and watching your life pass you by.

Perfectionism is dangerous, and there will never be the perfect time to go after your dreams.

This is part of Step 5 of the Life Editing Process, Make White Space for Personal Self-Care. White space isn’t just about taking bubble baths or reading a good book. It’s about giving yourself a break and allowing you and your work to be seen, flaws and all.

The tough choice all Life Editors must make is to choose between getting something done or holding on to perfectionism.

Yes, you can earn money even if your website is sort of boring. Yes, you can get healthier even if your gym clothes are shabby. Yes, you can save money even if it’s only $5 a week.

Let me share one of my many nuggets of “Sage advice” that I say over and over to my clients: Done is better than perfect.

If you wait for things to be perfect, you’ll be waiting forever.

That’s the truth. And fighting me won’t change that.

Want to Embrace Your Imperfections?

If you need some motivation to do the work despite your flaws, join the Life Editor Clubhouse membership site for several classes specifically designed for embracing imperfection.

  • An Edited Mind will challenge you to confront the limiting beliefs that are derailing your progress and face your fear and self-doubt.
  • Overcome Your Resistance will teach you to ditch your excuses and ignore the voices in your head that want you to be lazy and play small.

CLICK HERE to join the Life Editor Clubhouse to watch these classes plus dozens more.

This post focuses on Step 5 of the Life Editing Process, Make White Space for Personal Self-Care. For more about life editing and what it can do for you, click here.

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