I am always amazed at how forgiving I am when someone else makes a mistake yet I can spend hours, days, weeks, months, years… beating myself up for the smallest infraction.

I am always quick to remind the people I care about, when they have a particularly trying moment, or find themselves once again dealing with an ugly character flaw, an unhealthy behavior, or a negative attitude that: it is progress not perfection.

We all have our bad days… act out, say things that we regret, become defensive in regards to our own poor behavior.

It is important to acknowledge it… work towards not repeating it… and then let the shame of the slip go.

It is better if I make note of the positives that come out of my digression:

Maybe I am repeating the mistake less over the course of time…

Maybe I’m humble enough to apologize for my behavior instead of rationalizing or denying my actions…

Maybe I am able to share my experience with another who is struggling with the same issue and therefore, benefit their spiritual growth as well as my own.

Today, I choose to focus on progress over perfection, apologize for my short-comings, and strive each moment to be my best-self.

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“Dear God, help me to remember that no person is perfect and that there are many life lessons to learn each day.”