"I’ve come across two quotes this week about being perfect.  Well actually about not being perfect.  The first was from Layne Beachley - “done is better than perfect”.  She was referring to not delegating because you believe you’re the only one who will do something properly.  Apart from this resulting in you thinking you have to do everything, you’ll probably also tell yourself a pretty good story about not having enough support.  

The other quote from Simon Sinek was “progress is more important than perfection”.  It’s very easy to let the inner critic run wild when you don’t get something quite right, especially when you're learning something new.  You might not get the desired result as soon as you'd like, but if you’re improving that’s enough.  As Mr Wonderful likes to say “an 80% improvement is a lot better than what you started with”.

Don Miguel Ruiz in his best-selling book The Four Agreements gave us another way of looking at things.  He said “always do your best" and with this he pointed out that your best will vary day to day.  One day you might be able to scale a mountain and another you might just want to curl up with a book and listen to the rain.  If you honour how you’re feeling on the day, you’ll probably do a great job of getting through that book.

So that’s my take away from the Universe dishing up two better than perfect quotes.  On those days when I have a dozen things in mind to do and it’s stinking hot and I lose all motivation, it’s alright.  There will be other days like today, when I wake refreshed and bounding with energy and run at the world and I find my best is better than it usually is and there’s really no need to strive for perfect.

Perfect isn’t about the way we do things like clean house, or write a report, or cook a meal.  Perfect is a sunrise, a magpie’s song, or a cooling breeze.  It’s nature and we’re part of that - and I can’t think of anything more perfect.

Having just come off a run of significant birthday parties and finishing with two of my own, I began to brace myself for the comedown unsure of whether I would float or crash.  Catching up with so many family and friends and being the centre of attention for two consecutive weekends was lovely, but also put me a bit off balance.

I began to think of Michael Jackson, Prince, and countless other celebrities who shone so brightly yet ended up falling to drugs.  I wondered if drugs had become their way of dealing with the come down that reality must have presented for them following each gig or tour.

Sadly it seems that in riding those highs they lost their connection to the physical world and their ability to ground themselves.  This is not uncommon, many situations cause us to become ungrounded.  Preparing for major events like weddings, work projects, moving house, performing, exams, or even Christmas can require intense mental focus.  As the events draw closer they play over in our minds which can easily make us feel off balance or disconnected.

So how do we get grounded?  By getting back into the physical.  Exercise is a good way to pull you back into your body as your focus moves from mental to physical.  Meditation can also work, by breathing in and out through your base chakra and imagining you are growing roots.  Both of these techniques rely on you tuning into your physical senses, so why not tune in to as many as possible.

Watching last week’s supermoon provided a perfect opportunity.  Sinking my feet into the sand, feeling the wind whipping at my skin, listening to the laughter of the kids super excited to be on the beach after dark, and gazing at that glorious moon as it lit up the clouds and sky engaged almost all my senses, levelling me and connecting me with the elements and my physical being.  While this magical moment helped me to appreciate my human nature (great term - think about it), full moons and beaches aren’t always available.

Fortunately more accessible techniques are available and the next morning, savouring the smell, taste and texture of my first mango of the season, I could feel my connection with Mother Earth strengthening.

Grounding is about using your body to remember your connection to the earth.  Knowing that you are part of creation, that your natural state is being and living in harmony and balance with the planet.  Whatever societal commitments or experiences we undertake, we need to remember that the hairdo and heels is not us, but the ability to walk the earth and be nourished by her bounty is.

So as you head into the silly season here’s a few tips to help you stay grounded:

• Limit functions to those with the most spiritual value (and least emotional baggage),
• Schedule daily grounding activities (they’re as important as flossing and brushing),
• Honour yourself - consider what will nourish you the most (it might be saying no), and
• Stay close to nature.

Grounding is a simple process of getting back to earth.  I can’t think of a better place to be!

A meditation where you create your own natural space to reconnect with nature.
Enjoy!