A Fresh Start: Choosing Presence Over Perfection

This summer, I realized I had been wading far too long in a place I call Procrastination Pond. It looks peaceful on the surface - calm waters, a safe place to linger, and plenty of reasons to just stay put. Honestly, it’s not a bad place to be at first. The Pond has great cell service, Instagram and Facebook feeds, streaming channels galore, endless YouTube rabbit holes, and all the digital comforts you could ask for.

But here’s the catch: the longer you stay, the easier it is to drift into The Perfectionist Sea.

That’s what happened to me. At first, I was just floating in the Pond, telling myself I’d “get started soon.” But before I knew it, I was caught in deeper waters - the Sea of Perfectionism - where comparison and self-doubt pulled me under.

While I was there, I spent so much time consuming other people’s creations. I bought Instagram influencers’ “must haves.” I signed up for online courses - some I started, most I abandoned. I compared my own ideas and projects to everyone else’s. And I told myself that what I was creating had to be perfect before I could share it.

And you know what happened? The summer slipped away. While I sat in the Pond and Sea, other people kept creating. Other people kept sharing. Other people kept growing.

At some point, though, I realized something important: I didn’t know how I got here, but I was the only way out. No one else could rescue me. No one else could create my work, live my life, or share my voice. That part was up to me.

So here we are - today is September 1st.
The first day of National Yoga Month.
The first day of my birthday month.

And I’ve decided: I am done procrastinating, comparing, and waiting for perfection.

This is my September reset - stepping out of the Pond and the Sea, and back into presence, practice, and progress.

Maybe you’ve found yourself in those waters, too. If so, here’s your reminder: you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to begin.

Does any of this resonate with you? If so, maybe you’ve been wading in Procrastination Pond or drifting in The Perfectionist Sea, too. The good news? You don’t need a map, a rescue boat, or the “perfect” plan to get out. You just need to take one small step forward - your step.

To help you reflect on where you’ve been and where you want to go, here are a few journaling prompts. Pour yourself a tasty beverage, find a quiet corner, and see what bubbles up as you write:

1.  When have I found myself stuck in Procrastination Pond - scrolling, streaming, or stalling instead of creating?

2.  How have I drifted into The Perfectionist Sea - comparing myself to others or waiting until something feels flawless before I share it?

3.  What would it feel like to step out of the Pond and the Sea and simply begin?

4.  Where in my life do I need to remind myself: “I may not know how I got here, but I am the only way out”?

5.  If I release the need for perfection, what small step can I take today to move forward with presence, practice, and progress?

The Pond and the Sea may always be there, tempting us back. But so is the shore - waiting for us to step onto solid ground, shake off the water, and create something only we can bring to life.