The Perfect Way Does Not Exist
As humans, we all want a quick and easy solution to everything which ails us. And, we often fall into the trap of believing that if we want to achieve something, there is only going to be one way to achieve it. That is one perfect way for us.
Whether we want to lose weight, make more money, find our true love, or achieve anything else that holds a great deal of importance for us, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing if I just do this or that, then I will achieve my goal.
The problem is this leaves us open to believing that other people hold the solution to our problem. Particularly when desperation steps in the door. When we really need money, or we just have to lose weight now, then we often search for someone else to tell us what to do. We see the posts and adverts everywhere, ‘this is how you can make money today’, or ‘this is how you can drop 10 pounds in a weekend’.
I think most of us have been in that situation. Believing there is one perfect solution to our problem. That there is only one way to get us out of the pain we feel.
If you are in that situation right now.
Stop for a minute.
Breathe.
I have some good news for you.
Unless you are a brain surgeon, engineer, rocket scientist, or lawyer (and who knows, even in those professions, there may be some wriggle room built in) then there is rarely one perfect way to do anything.
When you are struggling with any issue, always remember there are many ways to get to the outcome you desire, and you may have to try a few different routes. However, the important thing is to be consistent and to give the method you are choosing right now your best shot.
Let’s look at an example.
Suppose you want to start a side hustle and you decide to build a blog. You start out full of enthusiasm, but after a few posts, you just aren’t seeing the traction you hoped for. You look around and you see other people building their side hustle through Instagram, YouTube, Etsy or any other number of places. Should you listen to them and switch?
Or, is the time right to listen to yourself?
You might have to ask yourself a few testing questions about the route you have chosen.
For example:
Have I given blogging my all?
Have I been consistent in posting, not just for a few days but for a considerable amount of time?
Am I enjoying writing the blog?
Can I see myself doing this for the next 3 months or 3 years?
It doesn’t matter what you are trying to achieve, blogging is just an example. What you are looking for with the answers to your questions is whether this is the right approach for you and have you given it your best shot?
If it’s not the right approach for you, then pivot. If you just haven’t given it your all, then dig deep and carry on.
The main thing, though, is to listen to your own voice. Get quiet for a while and shut out all the noise of people telling you to try something different. Really think through what’s right for you. The strange thing is that while we might not want to believe it, that internal voice really holds a great deal of wisdom for us.
There is no perfect way. There is only the way we are trying now.
To build more resilience and success, then give things a chance to work for you before jumping ship. That doesn't mean you can never change direction, but it means you won't be swayed so easily by external voices telling you that only they have the perfect solution.
As I have gotten older, this is a lesson that has been hard learnt. Believe me, I have jumped from one thing to another, whereas if I had stayed the course on many things, I believe I would be in a very different place today.
The good thing is that once you learn the lesson, it is empowering. Instead of looking at what others think, you first look inward and are open to hearing your own inner voice. Of course, you can still learn from others, but ultimately the choice should be yours as to the direction you take.
Ultimately, when you know there is no perfect way, it helps you to move forward with confidence as you understand there are many routes to your destination. And that relieves a great deal of pressure to not only find the perfect way, but to be perfect while you are pursuing your goal. No-one is perfect, not those at the top of their game, and not us here on the starting blocks, and that sounds pretty reassuring to me.