I thought I would write a little update on the first week of the challenge…
cause, um, it’s been quite the week!
I’ve always said that anybody who chooses to set lofty goals for themselves,
better be careful….
because life just has a way of testing those goals in every single way.
I had the pleasure of experiencing that myself this last week.
Call it PMS,
call it a test of my goals….
Whatever it was, I was not a fan.
But then again, once I stopped and tried to see the lesson,
maybe it wasn’t all that bad after all.
See?
I’m growing already.
Here’s what I learned about myself in the first week of the challenges:
~ Eating sweets is like a hug on an emotional day….
and when I’m having one and am not allowing sweets, beware of tears.
Lots of them.
~ I have an unhealthy addiction to my phone.
And when it decides to die for good a month after the toilet drop,
I can quickly turn from a “positive look at my blessings” girl, to a big ol grumpy bratty girl.
~ Speaking of brat, I can be one quite often.
Huh.
~ I am extremely hard on myself, and expect perfection at all times.
And when I fail,
because, brace yourself, I do…
I will get really down on myself and feel like a total failure.
~ I’m not one for Twittering much,
except on the day I’m not supposed to Twitter.
And then all of a sudden, I have a million things to tweet.
~ That I kinda LOVE the blessings journal, and I think I’m going to start making a daily habit of that.
It just made SUCH a difference in my day and my mood.
Um, until my phone broke.
{details, details.}
But the biggest thing I learned?
That this challenge…
or any attempt to better myself…
is not about perfection.
It’s about doing my best.
It’s about allowing the same grace and mercy I have no problem extending to others,
to myself on the days I don’t quite measure up.
And then picking myself up in the next day,
the next hour,
or even the next minute,
and trying my best once again.
It was a rough week,
but that’s usually when we see the most growth, isn’t it?
I thought I would grow from accomplishing the challenges….
instead I grew from falling short.
Hopefully though…
next week will bring some of it’s own mercy and grace
so I can take a moment and catch my breath!
Also,
I have to say.
My biggest blessing of all,
was every single one of you guys that have followed along and joined in.
Reading about your own journey and progress has been amazing!
Just another reason, that I LOVE this little community on le blog.
Enjoy your weekend loves,
and don’t forget to check today’s challenge!
© 2010 “Le Musings of Moi”
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Sorry your week has been so rough, but I love that you have grown from falling short of your challenges. I think that is even better than obtaining perfection at them! If things come easily then we don’t strive as much.
I tell ya’- I was so close to drinking Dr. Pepper last night. I WANTED it so badly after my super busy 3 days of non-stop activity. When I realized I had not even gone a whole week without it the 21 days felt like an eternity. But I refrained, got some water and felt better. 🙂
i’m a total perfectionist, too. i go crazy if things aren’t “just so.” hopefully i can learn to be like you and let go a little!
and what is the blessings journal? i want to learn more!
I have been doing your challenge as well and IT IS HARD! The positive thoughts one is the hardest. I pick on myself all the time and not doing it is a struggle, but it makes me feel better when i can actually come up with some good things about myself.
ok so the staying away from social media thing? harder than I thought it’d be. But I am trying to stay off of my computer as a whole more during the day. I’ll keep trying.
And it’s like with losing weight or dieting, if you mess up, just get back up and try again. Don’t kick yourself while you’re down because there’s always tomorrow. 😀
I love reading your posts!! You have an amazing way with words. That challenge is way too tough for me so good for you lady!
Hang in there! You rock and these things totally help us grow, right?! Proud of you girly
LOVE this and LOVE your perspective. I definitely bombed it on the sweets yesterday and felt the same disappointment you did. So glad for your reminder of mercy and grace!
Aw, lady, love this post! Wanna know my favorite line? ‘This challenge is not about perfection. It’s about doing my best.’ You are so right and it hadn’t occurred to me to think of it that way. But leave it to you to open my mind and feel better 🙂 Love you, Miss Summer!
Trying to quit caffeine had the same effect on moi!
Tough week, eh?! Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. I should know! Food is the monkey on my back at the moment. I swear if I had a gun I’d shoot the thing. Hopefully spring will come soon and give me longer daylight hours and more time to exercise. Until then I will eat!
stopping by from SITS!!!!You have thr right attitude!!!wishing you continued success!!!!
Wow, I would be cranky if my phone died too! It’s crazy how we used to live without them and now going even an hour without your phone is cause for panic.
I hope this week brings more happiness!
Goodness gracious, lady – this is AWESOME! I am loving the honesty and all this talk of growth. It is so inspiring that you are always trying to grow and improve yourself and trying to understand things better. As women we are SO hard on ourselves, and that nasty thing called perfection is so hard to deal with. I’ve always been a very much “all or nothing” girl, and if I didn’t do something perfect, well then – by golly I was a complete failure. I’m still struggling to overcome that kind of thinking. It’s probably one of the hardest things for me. Kudos to you for putting it all out there and being so honest about. You’re off the hizzle, my friend. 🙂