There is a mindset that masquerades as perfectionism. It seems to be motivating and helping you to achieve your goals, but in reality it’s what keeps you stuck right where you are. What is that mindset?
All or Nothing
With the all or nothing mindset, either you’re crushing your new routine, or you’ve abandoned your goals. Either you’re sticking exactly to your new eating plan, or you’ve given up and are stuffing yourself with comfort foods. Either you’re rigidly sticking to your new budget, or overspending like there’s no tomorrow.
Here is why the all or nothing mindset is problematic: It doesn’t allow for ‘life to be lifin’ as they say. It doesn’t allow for a bad night’s sleep, an argument with a partner, a headache, feeling frustrated or worried, a sick kid or pet, or virtually any other regular life occurrence.
It’s great when you can nail your workouts, eat according to your plan, and all the other practices that take you in the direction of your goals,
but let’s be real: sometimes you just can’t.
Sometimes you’re not feeling well or are stressed and do not have the bandwidth necessary to hang in there with Plan A. If you have an all or nothing mindset, that’s it, game over. Carefully crafted plans are thrown out the window, and you sink back into old familiar habits.
But, if you understand that life is not that simple, that being human is harder than dry dog food, you have a trusty Plan B that can keep you moving toward your goals, albeit at a slower pace, and that’s fine.
Remember the story of The Tortoise and the Hare? Think of the hare representing all or nothing. Either it’s running at top speed, or it’s sleeping behind a bush. The tortoise, on the other hand, keeps plodding along; not going fast, but always moving in the right direction, making steady progress. That’s what releasing the All or Nothing mindset can do for you, let you shine when you’re at the top of your game, and when you’re not, that’s ok, you’re still on your path, doing the best you can at the time. And that’s what takes you across the finish line of achieving your goals.
If you would like some support in releasing an all or nothing mindset, or any other aspect of creating the life you desire, schedule a free 30 minute call and we can explore how life coaching can help.
