‘All or nothing’, that is a good motto for a perfectionist. If something does not meet the ideal standard it is worth nothing. It is definitely not synonymous with flexible, easy-going, having self-compassion. Like trying to force a square peg into a round hole and I have the bruises to show for it. It is good to be able to recognize that something is not working for you and allow yourself to move on. Not keep trying to get yourself to fit into something that doesn’t suit. It is not being a quitter or failure to acknowledge something isn’t working out for you or you are not working out for it. It would have been better to realize it is not ‘all or nothing’, success or failure, but that there could be something else waiting out there for you.
“Set aside the old traditional notion of female as nurturer and male as leader; set aside, too, the new traditional notion of female as superwoman and male as oppressor. Begin with that most frightening of all things, a clean slate. And then look, every day, at the choices you are making, and when you ask yourself why you are making them, find this answer: Because they are what I want, or wish for. Because they reflect who and what I am.
This is the hard work of life in the world, to acknowledge within yourself the introvert, the clown, the artist, the homebody, the goofball, the thinker. Look inside. That way lies dancing to the melodies spun out by your own heart.”
― Anna Quindlen
Stream of Consciousness Saturday is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt for today ‘all or nothing.’ Featured image by Kate Ter Haar on Flickr.
Notes Tied On The Sagebrush 
All or nothing can be beneficial, I’m sure. But it also goes right along with stubborn, doesn’t it? There’s a turning point there, when the need to let go and move on usurps the will to hold on and make good… Choice, as you say, is everything in these matters. Good quotes, too.
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Yes it has taken me quite a while to realize that it is ok to admit defeat if something really isn’t working out. It is good to look inside ourselves and see who we really are and not try to live up to an image we have somehow bought into, like superwoman. Like you say not just keep trying to make good. I think the quote is saying this as well, to look at our choices and why we made them. Are we trying to live up to a false image of ourselves that we have somehow chosen or is it coming from our own true self. Thank you Joey. ❤
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Acknowledge the thinker,….. within yourself, and do not fret about not being acknowledged by others.
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Yes acknowledge what is inside us and that will be our guide. Thank you Reena. 🙂
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Lots of options between all and nothing. Great post, Deborah!
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Thank you JoAnna. ❤
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All or nothing, and all things binary, remind me or my job, so I look for gray areas and kinda-sorta things. I think those things are harder for the robot overlords to control.
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Yes those robot overlords can be very annoying and we shouldn’t aspire to be like them. Thank you Dan. ❤
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It’s essentially to look beyond the black and whites of it… difficult though. Great perspective, Deborah 🙂
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And to look inward too. Thank you Prajakta. ❤
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