There is nothing courageous in hanging on fiercely to your errors. We all make mistakes but it takes strength and courage to admit them to ourselves and, even more so, to others.

If I refuse to admit my mistakes, the energy I would have spent on new projects must be bottled up on maintaining a faulty status quo.

However, once I accept my mistakes, it clears me to move forward, making sure I do not repeat my errors.

I am strong enough to change. I admit my errors.

Note: this one in a series of “Striving for Imprefection” Affirmations aimed at helping get past the scourge of perfectionism that holds us back. You can find all affirmations here.

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• Peace or Perfection?
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• Abandoning Limiting Beliefs

Wealth and success are the natural results of treating others with integrity honesty, patience, and love.

We get confused. We think the universe if limited. It’s not. It has no end and no limits. The more we give, the more we get.

Give more. Get more.

Enjoy your reward.

Every Monday, a new motivational memo is posted. Subscribers to ThisTimeIMeanIt.com’s coaching service get this – and many more benefits – sent to them directly. If you’d like to know more, follow this link.

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We stress over what we have yet to do. Yet, the reality is no one will probably know what we meant to do. We will be judged by what we actually did.

Since that is the case, it’s important to focus on feeling good about what you have done and continuing to do well on what you are doing.

Your legacy is already being made.

Today, I realize how much I have accomplished and I take time to be proud of it.

Note: this one in a series of “Striving for Imprefection” Affirmations aimed at helping get past the scourge of perfectionism that holds us back. You can find all affirmations here.

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• I’m As Perfect as I Need to Be
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I would be correct.

What is the definition of “perfect?” How would you know when you were “there?”  More importantly, doesn’t it change with time? Weren’t there moments in your past that you thought were “perfect” but would no longer be considered so today?

Since it’s such a variable term and it’s so transient, it’s certainly possible that you are already there. You might as well enjoy your perfection.

In any moment, I am as close to perfect as I need to be.

Note: this one in a series of “Striving for Imprefection” Affirmations aimed at helping get past the scourge of perfectionism that holds us back. You can find all affirmations here.

If you like that post, try these…

• Peace or Perfection?
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A recent study presented to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Weight of the Nation conference projects that if Americans keep getting heavier at the current rate, 42 percent of us will be obese by 2030. That means, in less than 20 years, we will be sharing our country with an additional 32 million obese Americans, causing us to pony up a whopping $549.5 billion — over half a trillion dollars — in medical expenditures between now and then.

For comparison, the obesity rate has been hovering at an already-alarming 36 percent, or about 78 million adults, for the last decade. The projected increase will swell the ranks of the obese (no pun intended) to north of 100 million. In addition, the severely obese — about 100 pounds over healthy weight — will more than double from its current five percent to 11 percent.

We know obese folks are at greater risk for a multitude of weight-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea and even cancer. Obviously, they therefore will account for a greater proportion of medical costs. “They also have a much shorter life expectancy and generate greater lifetime medical costs, suggesting that future health care costs may continue to increase even if obesity prevalence levels off,” the study’s authors say.

There is a minor bright spot, albeit more a dim bulb than a spotlight. Researchers discovered that although obesity is increasing, it’s increasing at a decreasing rate. (You take your good news where you find it.) Unhappily, the data did not include children, so, on the other hand, these estimates might be low, as obese kids typically become obese grown-ups.

Forty-two percent is (obviously) almost half the population.

Therefore, moving it from macro to micro, if you’re in a room with only one other person; either you or he will be — or is currently — obese. If not you, it’s your sister, your husband, your child, your best friend, your parent, or most likely, several people you care about. Obesity affects not only the afflicted, but also every soul who loves, or interacts with, someone who’s obese — and, for better or worse, that’s every solitary, single one of us.

I am not writing this to make us aware of a problem of which we previously were ignorant.

Rather, I am concerned about the “fat wars” appearing to be more prevalent as this problem continues. Sadly, there is a “we” versus “them” mentality in the battle against obesity.

I’ve heard commentators, cohorts, and columnists define the obese in harsh and snide terms: lazy, sloppy, or as uncaring louts only draining our collective health care. Certainly, with a percentage of them, there might be an element of truth. Yet, it’s equally factual that those descriptors would also apply to a percentage of thin people, young people, tall people, rich people, old people, and smart people. Obese people are people. And they are merely a subset of our society. Whereby we all have unhealthy habits, theirs cannot be hidden behind closed doors. More importantly, before those of us in the “thin and healthy” camp point our extremely fit fingers at those on the “other side,” perspective must be established.

WE, collectively, have created a culture that — for whatever reason — is causing an epidemic.

Therefore, WE must solve it. However, before some of us self-righteously affix blame and wash our hands of “their” problem, we better understand that if we don’t all help each other, and do so with the foremost goals being health and compassion, we will certainly all sink together.

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We will NEVER get everything done. Period. End of story.

Focusing on how much we have to do is overwhelming and defeating. Rather, it’s important to pay attention to what you can do and what you have already done.

By doing that, you will be inspired to do more – adding to the ever growing list.

Every Monday, a new motivational memo is posted. Subscribers to ThisTimeIMeanIt.com’s coaching service get this – and many more benefits – sent to them directly. If you’d like to know more, follow this link.

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Overcompensating for what my parents said to me will not change what they said.

It may seem “silly” but many of our behaviors started when we were children.  Our parents – who were doing the best they knew how to do – passed along what they had learned from their parents, who passed along what they learned, who passed along what they learned…

If what we learned as children is still helpful to us now, it makes sense to continue to believe it. However, if the result is painful, it’s time to release it and move on.

However, do it with grace and compassion. Blame will not help.

I accept that my parents did the best they knew how to do. I am doing the same.

Note: this one in a series of “Striving for Imprefection” Affirmations aimed at helping us be more accepting of ourselves and get past the scourge of perfectionism that holds us back. You can find all affirmations here.

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“I lost 18 pounds my first 24 hours while still enjoying chocolate cake, French fries, and beer!

The best thing is it’s been a whole day and I haven’t gained back a pound!”

Hard to believe, isn’t it?

Like millions of women, Zelda Smith, always fought the battle of the bulge.

“Since I was young, I was chubby. Other kids made fun of me, teasing me and embarrassing me on the playground. As an adult, it only got worse.”

“It didn’t matter what I did, weight just kept piling on. I tried everything, switching to low-fat foods, watching what I ate; I even stopped using chocolate syrup as salad dressing. At meals, I tried limiting myself to only what could fit on one plate, never going back for seconds. My sister — who’s never been supportive — scoffed. She said, ‘Zelda, if you’re going to do the one-plate thing, I don’t think you should use a platter. It defeats the purpose.’ Do you see what I’ve had to put up with?”

“But I didn’t let her deter me; I was determined! So I adjusted my lifestyle. I went to the gym; I even got out of my car and went inside once. At home I exercised regularly — ten minutes once a month, just like clockwork. I found other ways to increase my activity. I started walking to the mailbox instead of driving; my husband really appreciated that because he found it hard to get in the front door when I left the car parked on the porch. Sometimes, when I was really inspired, I even put down the remote control and walked all the way over to the TV to shut it off. It’s not easy to change your life, but when something’s worth it, you sacrifice.”

“Still, I was frustrated by the lack of results.

So I went to one of those weight loss support groups. I thought I was going to die the first time I walked in the meeting, listening to that skinny young thing talk about how she lost weight by using some silly fad diet involving eating right and exercising. I thought, ‘No way this will work!’ But, I took the materials home and bought a food scale and put them right over there — in that drawer — where they’ve been for six months. You would think after that long, I would have lost something, wouldn’t you? See, nothing works.”

“Then, I discovered the new Placebo Sham Diet with miracle additive Cleanyouout! Wow! I take one pill every hour with a cup of castor oil, six raw eggs, and their patented ingredient, “laxital,” and — Voila! — the weight just drops off you. Of course, it helps to be near the restroom when it takes effect, but 18 hours a day in the bathroom is a small price to pay for a size five body.

Someday soon, I’m hoping to get out of here and show it to everyone!”

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Inner peace always outranks perfection.

Sometimes, it’s important to ask yourself what matters most – being happy or spending years striving to be “perfect” (especially since you never will).

It’s not “settling for second best” if you make a conscious effort to relax and enjoy your life.  After all, what could be more “perfect than that?”

Today I am at peace with who I am.

Note: this one in a series of “Striving for Imprefection” Affirmations aimed at helping us be more accepting of ourselves and get past the scourge of perfectionism that holds us back. You can find all affirmations here.

If you like that post, try these…

• Abandoning Limiting Beliefs
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There will always be more to do.

The only way we are all identical is that we each live in a 24-hour day.  Why some people accomplish more is therefore a function of how they organize their days and what priorities they have.

Yet, even they cannot accomplish everything they’d like to accomplish. We must realize that even when we pass from this life, we will still have uncompleted tasks “left on our plate.”

Be organized. Understand your priorities.  Accept that you’re only human.

Today I accept that there will always be something more to do.

All I can do is what I can do.

Note: this one in a series of “Striving for Imprefection” Affirmations aimed at helping us be more accepting of ourselves and get past the scourge of perfectionism that holds us back. You can find all affirmations here.

If you like that post, try these…

• Peace or Perfection?
• Abandoning Limiting Beliefs
• Earning Respect