You Don’t Have to Get It Right Every Time (The Audacity!)

This one is for the planners.
The perfectionists.
The people who can’t relax unless everything is color-coded, emotionally resolved, and possibly alphabetized.

If your name is on it, it must be perfect.
Flawless.
Impressive.
Ideally admired by strangers.

I know this because I have personally attempted to plan my way into a calm, predictable life.

It did not work.

No matter how much I plan, plot, prepare, and emotionally rehearse, life still shows up like, “Cute plan. Anyway…” and does whatever it wants. There are twists. Delays. Plot holes. Entire plot reversals.

Rude.

And yet—here’s the part perfectionism hates—none of that means I failed.

Sometimes things unravel. Sometimes the plan falls apart like a sweater that absolutely should not have been washed on hot. Sometimes something I was so sure about turns out to be… not it.

And that’s allowed.

I’m allowed to pivot without writing a formal apology.
I’m allowed to change my mind without submitting a resignation letter.
I’m allowed to miss the mark, misunderstand the assignment, or confidently head in the wrong direction for a bit.

Honestly? Iconic behavior.

When things don’t go as planned, I give myself permission to:
• Pause dramatically
• Mourn the version I thought would happen
• Sigh deeply
• Then gently pick myself up and keep going

Because life does not require perfection to be good. It requires flexibility, humor, and the ability to say, “Well that was weird—what’s next?”

🌿 Mindsets for the Recovering Perfectionist

• I don’t have to nail it to be valuable.
Showing up counts. Learning counts. Trying counts.

• Being wrong is not embarrassing.
It’s just information arriving late with zero manners.

• Pivoting is not failure.
It’s me adjusting to reality like a functional adult wizard.

• Grace is not optional—it’s required equipment.
Especially when things get weird.

🕯️ Gentle, Slightly Silly Practices for When Plans Explode

• Stop and breathe before spiraling.
I don’t need to fix my entire life in the next 12 minutes.

• Name what didn’t happen.
“Yes, I am disappointed. No, I am not doomed.”

• Choose one good-feeling thing.
Comfort counts. Joy counts. Cozy absolutely counts.

• Release the need to redo the past.
I’m going forward now. With snacks.

I don’t need to get it right every time.
I need to stay curious, kind to myself, and willing to keep going—even when life goes off-script.

And honestly? Life still has the potential to be great.
Even now.
Especially now.