This is a quote that is quickly becoming a mantra of mine. The strangest thing about that is that I don’t really even like this quote. Now, I think this is marvelous quote for others to live by and I fully support them in their journeys and think this is an excellent way to be! I am so proud of their progress and learning and ability to focus on and celebrate their growth and want to celebrate with them! But, for myself, I find it HARD to do this! I am a perfectionist and if I spend all of my time celebrating baby steps won’t I just become complacent and never reach perfection?

However, as I encounter some version of this idea in seemingly every area of my life, I am adjusting to becoming open to learning from this! I have truly seen this quote or some version of it almost everywhere. I have seen and read it from Kelsey at Hiitburn and I have seen it in Kevin Hart’s posts (who I started following at @kevinhart4real on Instagram in an effort to learn more about the systemic racism we continue to deal with in our nation (he was not using it in reference to racial issues, I believe it was in reference to his own fitness journey). I have seen a version of it from Ruth Soukup from Living Well Spending Less, and from Alida Quittschreiber at The Realistic Mama. I have even seen it in the Bible in Philippians 3: 12 when Paul says he has not yet attained perfection, but he presses on that he may lay hold of what Christ has laid hold of for him.

When I find something again and again and from some many sources I think it deserves my attention. When I see it in scripture I know it is true. I am trying to listen and to understand it more since I have seen it in all these places! Especially since I have seen it in the one place that truly counts, the Bible!

Here are some things I am taking away from this quote.

1 ~ It can mean starting again after you mess up because it is still progress if you learn something.

2 ~ It can mean taking just the next step in front of you whether it is big or small and not worrying about the whole or big picture when you’re overwhelmed.

3 ~ It can mean being kind to yourself when a baby step is all you can take.

4 ~ It means that a baby step in the right direction is better than doing nothing at all or heading in the wrong direction.

5 ~ It can mean adding things to your healthy eating or workout routine INSTEAD of taking things away.

6 ~ It can mean that a TRUE 80/20 rule really does make a positive impact.

7 ~ It means that slow and sustainable is better than fast and too rigid for long term growth and well being.

Since this quote can be seen in the God inspired Word of Him, I must have something to learn from it. And I am slowly learning that my best IS good enough. I am learning that I don’t have to know all the answers or get it ALL right ALL of the time. I am also seeing that my perfectionism is rooted in a false belief that I can get it ALL right ALL of the time on my own if I’ll just try harder or give up more or be better. The reality is I am frail, incapable and completely fallible on my own. Anything I get right or excel at is because of Jesus working in me to make me more like Him. As I keep my eyes on Him and allow Him to do His work in and through me, I will make progress toward perfection. Unfortunately, I must also realize, as it says in the Bible, that I will continue to war with my “old man” (my sin nature) until heaven. That means mess ups, failures, and falling short. My perfectionist nature HATES this. But if I can accept my frailty and lean on and learn from Christ more because of it, He will help me clean up my messes, learn from my failures and reach beyond my limitations in His strength. So, I will strive for perfection through progress. I will keep my eyes on Jesus and “the joy set before” me. I will strive to take up my cross daily and when the road is a slippery, sloppy mess instead of a straight clear path forward, I will repent, ACCEPT His grace and forgiveness and keep moving forward, “not having attained it… but striving toward” Him!

What are your thoughts on this quote? Is it a comfort or a thorn? Have you seen it work in your own life? Please share so we can learn from each other and move forward together!