Just remember this one thing: now matter how much you have, you can always find someone who has more. Well, it's human nature for one thing. If everyone did every single thing they were told they should be doing they would be at it twenty-four hours a day and still wouldn't get it done. When you think about each day as we go about our business, how many times do we compare ourselves with others? And isn't it true that we tend to compare our weaknesses with other's strengths? We compare our possessions, our children, our physical bodies, our cars, our careers and on and on. At the pace we are going is it any wonder when we "drop the ball" from time to time? Ask any couple who have been married for a significant amount of time when their fondest memories are. No matter how great you look, you can always find someone who looks better. No matter how high you climb the corporate ladder, you can always find someone higher.
It's a game you can never win! We all can think of many examples of those who have much but are miserable people. You wouldn't worry so much about what others thought of you if you understood just how seldom others really thought about you. I didn't want much in life, just perfection! If you feel inadequate, like you are not measuring up, you are in good company. Life is like an old-time rail journey-delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. Each of these great people and many others spent a good part of their lives feeling like they were never going to measure up. I made great plans for my fort and dreamt about all the fun I was going to have with it. There is great purpose to our struggles in life. My career would finally take off and I would be able to provide for my family all of the wonderful blessings and luxuries and comforts life has to offer.
Read the life histories of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Mother Theresa, or Michael Jordan. Make a list of all the things you are doing well and give yourself a pat on the back. What are the causes of The Perfect Male Syndrome? I suffered from PMS: The Perfect Male Syndrome. As we struggle with The Perfect Male Syndrome or The Perfect Female Syndrome, be encouraged that you don't have to do it all or have it all to be happy and content. There is a similar sister malady known as PFS: The Perfect Female Syndrome. Well, I'm ashamed to say what we ended up doing with it, but there was this 55 gallon drum of diesel fuel out in the back of our property
you can figure out the rest. If we count all the balls each of us juggle on a daily basis it can get overwhelming.
That may sound contrary to what is usually taught but I believe it can be very liberating to give yourself a break once in a while. Give yourself credit where credit is due. Cynics will say "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Well, the road to heaven is also paved with good intentions. What I described above I thought would be heaven. That's a sobering thought. As we were building the fort we were so excited about all the fun and adventures we were going to have with it. Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. My marriage would always be wonderful, full of bliss and romance and excitement. Invariably they will mention the early days of their marriage when they had to scrimp and save and struggle. I will be talking specifically about PMS because that's what I suffer from, but what I have to say applies to both. Have you ever said to yourself, "I Will Be Happy When
" followed by a long list of conditions?