Poetic Inspirations and Practical Applications for Blissful Living

You Have to Do it Perfectly – Not!

You Have to Do it Perfectly – Not!

Guest Post by Ann Musico

Guest Post by Ann Musico

Image courtesy Ann Musico at www.threedimensionalvitality.com

 

Almost every client I’ve worked with through the Today’s the Day coaching has had one or more days where they “messed up.”  Whether it was eating an entire loaf of banana bread with butter (yes, one client did that!) or an unplanned meal out with very few acceptable choices, they were almost always hesitant to tell me what happened.  In fact usually they avoided emailing me and when I reached out expressing concern, they reluctantly admitted what happened.

 

And my response was and is always the same: “Ok. Then what did you do?” Invariably they would say, “I went right back to eating clean.” I assured them that this was exactly what they needed to do and that one day off was not going to ruin everything they’d worked for to that point. And it didn’t! They all ended up reaching their goal – even the banana bread lady!

 

It’s actually good that things like that happen during the 7 weeks because they will most definitely happen once the coaching is over. One of the basic principles in my plan is the 90/10 rule (page 92 in the book). As long as you eat clean and healthy 85-90% of the time, the other 10-15% isn’t going to make much difference. It’s only when you go off and one day turns into 3 weeks that you can really sabotage yourself.

 

Beating yourself up, feeling guilty and ashamed of yourself is totally counterproductive and a huge waste of time!  And if they were waiting for me to scold them, that was not going to happen.  I have a confession to make. I don’t eat perfectly 100% of the time.  Sshhh – don’t tell anyone!

 

In fact I don’t know anyone who does. A lady I worked with at a previous job knew I was also a health coach. So she told me she was embarrassed to tell me what she ate because she just knew I would never approve. Who died and made me the nutrition police?? It’s not my place or job to judge anyone else. When I work with clients I provide accountability, support, encouragement, information and motivation. But there’s no place for condemnation, guilt or shame. We are all on this journey together and none of us – me included – does it perfectly. Let’s shoot for doing it the best we can instead. That makes more sense to me.

 

How do you feel about not doing it perfectly?

Ann Musico

Ann Musico is a holistic health coach who helps women to exemplify lives of vibrant health and wholeness by empowering them to take responsibility for their own health in order to be a positive influence on those around them in a way that is simple and achievable. Visit her website at http://www.threedimensionalvitality.com and learn more!