WELLSPRING: Insights and Inspiration on the Path to Wellness--Inaugural Blog Post

Welcome to the first monthly post for Wellspring, my new blog for Valiant Heart Coaching. Each month I will post on a variety of issues with resources of interest to my clients and fellow coaches as we strive to optimize our emotional and physical wellness in uncertain times. 

I am excited to be launching my coaching business, Valiant Heart Coaching, in January 2022. I look forward to being able to play a small but important role in helping individuals make meaningful changes step-by-step and, in the process, transform their lives. As I work with my amazing website designer, Kiana Karimi ([email protected]), and my team to finalize my first-ever website I am reminded about recent discussions we have had in my Hero's Journey group about the difference between excellence and perfectionism. 

In her new book, Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown writes about this very topic. During a recent interview, speaking about shame, perfectionism, and vulnerability, she said:  

"What people don't understand is that were perfectionism drives us, shame is there. So, perfectionism is a function of shame... The thing to understand is that in the research... the opposite of perfectionism is healthy striving or striving for excellence. So, for people who are successfully striving for excellence, perfectionism is not the path--it is the greatest barrier... (it's) actually one of our most dangerous defense mechanisms... a defense mechanism against shame, judgment, belittlement, fear... We think we carry it around to keep from getting hurt, but what it actually gets us is it keeps us from being seen--and it is so addictive."
(11/28/21, Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast) 

Powerful words! As we turn the corner into a New Year, let's all reflect on how we can step out of our perfectionist tendencies and strive instead for excellence, embracing our ordinary yet extraordinary selves. 

--Jennifer