Gluten Free BBQ Pizza And The Pitfalls Of Perfectionism

Definition of perfectionism – a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfection.

We hear a lot of people throw around the idea that they are a “perfectionist”. The self proclaimed perfectionists usually wear it like a badge of honor and are somehow even more perfect for letting the world know they are perfectionists. Let me tell you from a true perfectionist’s point of view. It is NOT a good thing.

I have been holding onto this recipe for almost two months. Why didn’t I release it?  I was not happy with my picture that went along with the recipe. (See imperfect picture below). Why not, you ask?  The spinach looks wilted (it’s not  actually wilted, we all know this is just what cooked spinach looks like).  But in food photography, most food actually gets photographed BEFORE it’s fully cooked, just for this reason. Dislikes continued…

The tomatoes in the background are dented, and the extra barbecue sauce I sprinkled on top for a “yummy effect” ended up looking more like a crime scene.  So I waited, and waited some more, until I had time to re-do the shoot so everything could be picture perfect.  See perfect picture above (spoken in jest).

It got me thinking, or realizing something about myself.  Real life is not full of do overs, and nothing is always picture perfect! And your pizza WILL actually look more like the bottom picture when you take it out of the oven. So now, instead of beating yourself up and feeling bad that your homemade pizza did not turn out as beautiful as my perfect picture above, you can feel good about yourself while you are eating your pizza.

It may not look perfect but I promise you’ll enjoy it. This picture below is much like life. Messy, imperfect, sometimes a little battered, but still delicious!

I am learning to embrace and accept the fact that I am not perfect and I am trying hard not to strive for perfection.  In the past, if I wasn’t my best on any given day as a wife, a mother, a friend, or at work, I felt as if I had to start all over from scratch and try to be perfect the next day.

What does that type of thinking lead to?  Feelings of not being deserving, as well as it creates expectations of others to do everything in the same manner we would; it sets us up for perpetual failure. As Anne Wilson Shaef says,“Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.”  

So ease up on yourself and learn to enjoy those imperfect moments as much as the perfect ones. If I allow myself to look at the positive side of things, my original imperfect pizza photo led me to write this perfect post.  Kidding (sort of)!

God never meant for us to be perfect.  Striving for perfection only brings us anxiety and we are lovingly reminded in Isaiah 41:10 that we have God on our side to help us.  Once we really believe and understand that, we can lay down our worry about not being good enough. 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”