Choose Progress Over Perfection
We all have struggles. We all fall off the horse. We all feel overwhelmed at times.
So, what do you do when you mess up—overeat, give in to cravings, or miss the mark? Do you slip into self-criticism, labeling yourself a failure? Or do you give up? Remember, falling off the horse isn’t the end. What truly matters is that you get back on and try again. Every effort you make counts, and you’re growing in ways you may not even see yet. I’m so proud of you for recognizing those moments when you’re struggling—awareness is such a powerful first step. Seeing your triggers is essential for real breakthrough.
Most people hit a wall when pushing toward change, and sometimes it feels even harder than before. That’s okay! Often, that’s when a breakthrough is about to happen. Don’t forget, the enemy doesn’t want you to succeed. He throws distractions and discouragement your way to keep you from God’s best. But when you feel overwhelmed or frozen in place, take a deep breath and do the next thing.
Start by making a list for today. Write down everything that needs to be done, then prioritize. Trying to tackle everything at once leads to frustration and burnout. I had an employee who felt buried under a massive project—6,000 patient accounts to organize in a single summer, roughly four months. She focused on the mountain of 6,000 accounts at once and became so overwhelmed she was in tears, unable to make any progress. Together, we broke it down. We figured out she needed to complete about 75 accounts per day, roughly 9-10 per hour, with each account taking about 6 minutes. By focusing on a manageable number of accounts each day, she stopped feeling overwhelmed by the total and saw a clear path forward. She finished ahead of schedule and learned that even the biggest projects are doable when you focus on one day at a time.
Sometimes all you need is to take a breath. When I was training for a 1.2-mile swim as part of a half Ironman race, I felt panicked just seeing that distance stretched out over the water. It was overwhelming. When I hit the water that day, I felt my chest tighten and found myself in the middle of a panic attack. Another athlete came alongside me and asked, “Are you okay?” I replied, “Yes, I’m fine,” even though inside, I was fighting off panic. The reality of swimming that distance felt impossible, so I focused on reaching just one buoy at a time, taking each segment as it came. I even gave myself permission to slow down, switching to a gentler stroke when I needed to. And as long as I kept moving forward, one stroke at a time, I knew I’d eventually reach the other side. Step by step, I made it.
If you have goals—writing a book, improving your health, deepening your faith, building friendships—give each one intentional time. Set small, realistic blocks in your schedule to work on each area. This will bring structure and peace, knowing you’re making consistent progress toward your goals.
Sometimes we self-sabotage because of past hurts. But each day is a fresh start. No matter what happened yesterday or even an hour ago, you can choose to do the next right thing, right now. God wants you to be joyful. He wants me to be joyful. He died on the cross because He loves us and wants us to live abundantly.
Defying Fear Principle: Choose progress over perfection. Each new day, each small step forward, brings us closer to the life God has called us to live. So press on, keep going, and trust that God is working in you and through you, one step at a time.
Defying Fear Verse: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” —Philippians 4:4