Every one of us has imperfections. And we always will.
In today’s world of social media, we might tend to hide those. Instead, we show our best stuff to the world as we read about the other’s latest vacation or newest promotion. As other people post, we can feel the need to add only our own good stuff. This isn’t bad, it’s just not a complete picture.
I can recall many Christmas cards that included full 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper filled with glowing reports on the highlights of everyone in their families. Sometimes, it felt a bit like watching their families Academy Awards, only in writing. However, you didn’t hear about the challenges of their everyday lives because those are boring, or even worse, “downers.”
The reality is; we all have flaws: we are human. Without blinking, we can most likely name many of the imperfections we have lived with for years; but how many of our imperfections have we shared, or asked for feedback on how to get better? There is a conflict between our core human need of wanting to learn and grow and the need to be accepted and respected for the way we are. We don’t have to tell everyone we failed or messed up. We don’t have to put it in the annual Christmas letter, but we should have someone we can confide in.
Who is your person?
As an entrepreneur, managing the constant prioritization and reprioritization of sales, delivery, marketing, client relationship management, and the growth and development of our people can be an intense pace. In a larger business, it may be even more so. (Thank goodness, I don’t have to worry about supply chains, too!)
When I get fatigued, my stress levels rise, almost like a pressure cooker waiting to be released. I can feel it, and I can see it in myself. I am very aware of the signs that show up when I am approaching this, but at times, I forget to ask for help soon enough, and then I snap at someone who doesn’t deserve it.
I’m getting better (but not perfect) at reaching out to “my person,” and speaking out loud what is in my head. We all need “that person” who allows us to have a release valve and who doesn’t judge us for sharing these raw, and sometimes ugly, emotions. Like the physical release we get from sports or a difficult exercise, it’s like a workout of our head or heart.
My person allows me to rant, and then when the pressure cooker subsides, he calmly begins to ask me questions to work toward a solution. And most importantly, “my person,” just as calmly and in a caring way, provides me feedback so I can learn and grow. When we get feedback, it is a gift. When you have “your person” who provides it honestly because they care about you, it is an even bigger gift.
Do you have “your person”? And just as importantly, are you “that person” for someone else?
