Your best is enough.

Maybe you’re in business and maybe you’re not, but you may understand what it feels like when I say, I always have the best intentions with a lot of things, but only some things work out exactly as I hoped. I find my life is always in this uphill race against time. There is never enough time to do all the things I want to, but I believe that when you focus on what’s most important, you end up where you need to be. It still stings as you watch the things you had high hopes for fall to the wayside. For example, those chairs I started painted and posted a video of over a year ago. Those chairs are still half painted. I look at them all the time and think to myself, “when the heck did I think I would have time to paint chairs?”

Likewise, I have always wanted to host luncheons for other working women, so I can connect with other women and share…there was no time. I wanted to educate more in hair, so I could share what I have learned…I was able to, but only for employees. I wanted to share more of my life on social media…I did, but not consistently. I wanted to be a blogger, because I love to write, but I was too tired to get it on paper or to type. I wanted to have a 4th baby, but I have difficult pregnancies. Time or circumstance didn’t allow for a lot of things to come to fruition, but I don’t focus on that. I focus on what is in front of me now and then I allow myself to feel accomplished for those things I was able to do. I have 3 healthy children and a husband I love to share this life with, I managed to fit in a new puppy, I made myself a career I am proud of and happy in, I have had the opportunity to be a part of hundreds of brides special days, I have taken trips I always wanted to take and I have spent so much time with my family, friends and employees making memories I will treasure. Instead of thinking of what didn’t happen, think about what did happen and I think you’ll be surprised how fulfilling it is.

The 80/20 rule in life is always a good one to revert back to whenever you feel you may be falling short. I feel like it can be applied to so many things in life and the more I start applying it in different areas of life, the more it holds true. I’ll give a couple examples of how I apply it to my life.

80% of the time I try to eat relatively healthy foods, but 20% of the time I eat whatever I want. I anticipate every year that 80% of the goals I set for myself I will achieve, but 20% of my ideas/goals will fall to the wayside, or prove to be unnecessary. I give 80% of my time to the most important things in my life such as my family, my home and my work. The other 20% I put aside for my social life and house projects. Its funny how I never expect to finish any house projects during my busy season and they all become winter projects. During the day I plan out what I want to do and then I expect to achieve 80% of what I wanted and have 20% left over for another day. I can do 80% of my responsibilities on my own and then I will need help or have to outsource for 20% of those tasks. I can go on and on.

Basically the way I have interpreted it for myself is that, its not possible to be 100% in any area of my life. If it were then I would have to do much less and it may lend to the idea that perfect is possible. Perfect is not possible, even though I say all the time, “I just want this to be perfect!”. It’s is all about perspective and that is a very powerful thing. I want to interject and note that it is okay to ask for help or pay for help! I used to think I had to do it all on my own and that simply is just not possible.

I am going to be really honest right now. I am not where I wanted to be at this point in my life. I am somewhere in life, very different than what I imagined, but I am grateful, happy and I am still working toward those things I dream of. On the other hand, I have accomplished so many things that I wanted to and so many unexpected things in between. It is my perspective that has opened my heart to the journey and to allowing things to happen as they will. I can’t imagine what it looks like from the outside looking in, but from the inside my life is ever-changing, unpredictable and a constant work in progress.

I too have moments of seeing others and thinking wow, I wish that was me. I think its only natural to admire the things in life we want to achieve, while we are working toward our goals. However, we must always refocus and look forward in the face of our own path and life lessons. A lot of that is acceptance. Accepting when life shifts, relationships change, and being okay with letting go of what is not supposed to be a part of our journey.

This year, I feel very accomplished. This year I have been a mom for 10 years, a wife for 10 years and this winter I will be a business owner for 10 years. It is like the stars have aligned for me to have a decade under by belt with the 3 things that I live for most. I am reflecting right now. Where do I want to go from here and where am I meant to be? I guess I will see as time goes on. I worked 70 hour weeks for years, while raising my babies and now I am finally at a place where I can work less and find myself in a different way. This winter will be a calm one for me and an exciting one. I don’t know what will transpire, since my life tends to feel like a ride with unexpected turns and twists at every corner. What I do know is that I am thankful and happy.

I want anyone reading this to know that success can only be measure by you. Failure can only be measured by you. You set the standard for yourself and your own life. The most important takeaway from all of life’s changes is what you learn. For every person, the lessons are different, but you should never find yourself at a place where you aren’t striving to grow. Maybe try to apply the 80/20 rule to your life and see if it helps you feel less pressured. Maybe ask for help or take help when it is offered. Set your goals and standards high, but then embrace the climb to get there. Thats the key.

-Jessica xo