Unless I am doing everything, it is easy to question if I am doing enough. So how do I know if I am doing enough?

Perfectionism’s opinion is I will never do enough. So I should consider other perspectives that challenge perfectionism and help me arrive at a healthier approximation of enough.

It is frustrating to admit I am not as capable as I expect myself to be. I am fixated on achieving Step 10 and hate to admit I am only on Step 2. I could try leaving behind my sense of entitlement and get to work on Step 3. I could try setting real-life goals rather than comparing myself to an ideal.

It is difficult to feel grateful in the face of all this disappointment. Admitting I am an overall fortunate human being makes it worse. I could try a more honest perspective. I could try practicing gratitude. I could try allowing myself to be happier.

Setbacks feel impossible to overcome because just getting started takes enormous effort. I want to spend energy on progress, not resets. I could try defining success in terms of my ability to manage the unplanned rather than how much I check off my to-do list. I could try doing something instead of professing things are hopeless.

To summarize:

• Try humility
• Try appreciation
• Try flexibility

My perfectionist side despises these suggestions; I take that as a positive sign.