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Tag: perfectionism

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How To Build Discipline Without Getting Overwhelmed

How To Build Discipline Without Getting Overwhelmed

I used to think discipline was pure willpower, and most people seemed to be better at it than me. When researching discipline and motivation, I felt so defeated. I’ve tried “pushing through,” and it never works. But in studying my Bible, trying different strategies, and researching the science connecting discipline and motivation,  I’ve realized we’ve been looking at the two all wrong.  Discipline can be joy-producing and invigorating, deeper than motivation. It can be productive but not overwhelming. Getting to…

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How To Balance Work and Rest as an Overachiever

How To Balance Work and Rest as an Overachiever

I have a nasty habit of overscheduling myself. In wanting to perfect myself, I want to do everything right now and do it all flawlessly. While I know this perfectionism-fueled ambition leads only to burnout, I feel I can still manage. Believe me, I know how depleting burnout is, and to read more about that, click here. Feelings are a fleeting, unstable foundation, but that doesn’t help how convincing they can be. The problem with feelings is how quickly basing…

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How To Change Your Need to Hustle To a Desire to Rest

How To Change Your Need to Hustle To a Desire to Rest

I have a terrible habit of overscheduling myself. It’s near impossible to say no to others, my friends, or even myself. This desperate need to take on more and more is another branch of perfectionism. It starts when I find a new project, and I can’t pick and choose what I take on. Because choosing just one creative project or just one new business venture is too difficult a decision, I resort to planning a strategy to handle it all…

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reputation
How to Remain Confident When Your Reputation is Threatened

How to Remain Confident When Your Reputation is Threatened

Some people and situations never fail to stir up my anger. Have you ever felt like laugh-crying when one more degrading comment acts as the last straw? It often feels like we attract snarky statements and passive remarks. The enemy puts people in our path who know what to say to hurt us. For me, damaging my reputation is a guaranteed way to rouse my temper. Reputation is important. I have to be known as the “good egg.” I have…

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Why Am I Mean? How to Stop Putting Expectations on Others

Why Am I Mean? How to Stop Putting Expectations on Others

The voice of perfectionism, also known as the inner critic, is arguably the meanest, most hateful demons in history. I can’t tell you the number of times where its lies have made me cry myself to sleep. The number of days it has stolen seem innumerable. The expectations that perfectionism forces on someone are too much to endure. I remember scoffing at bullied kids on commercials or movies because the immature taunts they endured from their bullies seemed like child’s…

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What to Do When You Doubt in God

What to Do When You Doubt in God

While the fear in doubt tempts us to hide from the possibility that God is not the truth, God Himself is eager to answer our questions and lay our doubts to rest. The skepticism we face can be re-evaluated to be not a weapon for our destruction but nourishment to our faith and knowledge of the Bible. Therefore, we must process the question and ask God for the answer, honestly coming to him with authentic open-heartedness, with no expectation or…

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How To Process The Shame Of Doubt

How To Process The Shame Of Doubt

Doubt sounds like such a shameful word. It’s something we often run from as Christians. Yet it appears in many different ways, from doubt in God’s existence to doubt in our salvation to disbelief in God’s sovereignty. Give yourself grace “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.” Romans 3:3-4 NKJV Just as God shows us mercy every time…

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Hope For When Life Doesn’t Get Better

Hope For When Life Doesn’t Get Better

I often get caught up in the daily struggle against common trials; somedays it’s the seemingly ever-present demon of perfectionism. Some days, it is overcoming depression or anxiety enough to get up in the morning. But despite the mundane habit of battling your demons each day, God promises victory to those who surrender. If we surrender the daily fight, we reap eternal rewards. The hope found in God’s endurance alongside us amid our battles is the small yet powerful driving…

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Am I Enough? How to Differentiate Between Condemnation and Conviction

Am I Enough? How to Differentiate Between Condemnation and Conviction

I just want to be enough. It doesn’t matter how many people remind me of my accomplishments or my positive attributes, I still can’t release this inner craving for acceptance. I wake up, I try my best to accomplish everything I need to be “good”, then I go to bed, defeated. No matter how many requirements of perfection I accomplish, I still never receive the promised rewards. I think I’ve believed the wrong person. Maybe the promises never come to fruition because the promiser is a fake.

rocky formations with plants in desert
Who am I? Unearthing Our Identity As Christians

Who am I? Unearthing Our Identity As Christians

As believers and followers of Christ, we naturally work against the thread of commonplace ideas and customs of this world. Thus, it is imperative that we learn our identity in Christ. Understanding and answering “who I am” not only preserves the image of Christ in our lives, but it also gives us ammunition against the lies of the enemy. Whenever Satan says we are isolated, unloved, or when he says God’s love is dependent on our works, we can fire…

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