Embrace progress, not perfection

"Progress over perfection" is a popular mantra in the wellness world, and at Go Pro Pilates, it has been a cornerstone belief from the start. However, in today's society where people tend to publicly showcase their achievements, it can be difficult to overcome self-criticism. This often leads to comparison, shame, and judgment.

Chasing perfection hinders your progress, detaches you from your authentic self, and leaves you feeling defeated. Instead, focus on progress and enjoy the journey. By doing so, the obsession with perfection becomes less relevant.

If you're struggling to overcome self-criticism, Go Pro Pilates offers a simple yet effective framework to embrace progress over perfection.

The Six Principles of Pilates: Breath, Precision, Center, Flow, Concentration and Control guide the Pilates practice at Go Pro Pilates. Rather than striving for perfection, the focus is on doing it well, feeling good, and staying connected. This progress-over-perfection approach is applied to the six principles to embrace a grace-filled and progress-focused approach to Pilates and fitness. To do so, commit fully but remain flexible, be conscious, deliberate and intentional, leverage the breath-body connection, do it well but at your own pace, and seek alignment above all else. 

Breath

Leverage the power of breath to calm the mind and body

When pursuing progress, it's common to feel overwhelmed and stressed, leading to shallow, fast breathing. This type of breathing exacerbates anxiety and hinders progress. By slowing and deepening your breath, you can shift to a calmer and more centered state, allowing you to let go of perfection and embrace the idea of "good enough" as perfect.

Precision

Do it well, in your own time and way

Precision can be a trap of perfection, as it implies you need to do it right based on others' standards or expectations. In the context of progress over perfection, precision means doing it well but at your own pace and in a way that suits you.

For instance, if your goal is to integrate movement into your daily routine to feel stronger, doing it well means:

- Identifying the type of movement that feels good for you and prioritizing it.
- Scheduling it in a feasible time, not forcing it at an inconvenient time like early morning.
- Trusting your body will build strength with commitment, even if it doesn't happen immediately.
- Doing it well based on your standards, not others, is the essence of progress over perfection.

Center

Seek inner balance and alignment

Staying centered is key to progress over perfection. Life can easily pull you in different directions and make you lose sight of your own goals and values. Keeping your focus on what aligns with your true self will help you stay on track and let go of the pressure of perfection.

Like in Pilates, taking time to check in with yourself and realign with your center can bring you back to a place of balance and clarity. It may not always be easy, but with practice, you will have the ability to return to your center and stay true to yourself.

Flow

Flow means finding your own rhythm and letting it lead you. Pilates is a great example of how this feels - when you're in the flow, perfection is not the goal, what's important is staying connected to the movement and the experience. Finding your own flow in life and letting it guide you is essential for embracing progress over perfection. Instead of letting others dictate your journey, create your own path and go with the flow.

Concentration

Focus on progress, be adaptable. Your goals, needs and desires are constantly changing, so your approach should too. Committing to your desires while allowing room for flexibility and adaptation will help you achieve more than striving for perfection. As your circumstances evolve, so should your definition of "perfection." For example, going to the gym five days a week before work might have been your idea of perfect, but now with kids at home (I know, I have 3), doing Pilates for 30 minutes twice a week using online classes might be the new standard. Embrace progress and adapt to life's changes.

Control

Exercise control over your actions and thoughts. Focus on the journey, not just the end result. By being deliberate and intentional in your approach, you'll be able to better handle setbacks and obstacles, and find greater fulfillment in the progress you make. Embrace progress, and cultivate a conscious, intentional mindset.

This is a great conclusion! It reminds us that it's not about reaching a destination, but instead, it's about enjoying and appreciating the journey. By embracing progress over perfection, we can let go of the stress and anxiety that comes with striving for perfection, and instead, focus on what's truly important and what feels good for us.