Beyond The Perfect 10: Stop Striving For Perfection
My interview with 3xs Olympian, Gold Medalist and Entrepreneur, Dominique Dawes.
If I were to tell my younger self that I would meet Dominique Dawes, interview her and get on a high beam- I would lose it!
But it’s true! I grew up inspired by Dominique Dawes. Her motto- Desire, Determination and Dedication has always resonated with me.
Growing up, I always had a dream for my life and believed that I would make a difference in this world despite my limiting circumstances.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dominique Dawes, 3x Olympian, Olympic gold medalist, mom of four and gymnastics legend, during the media preview of her newest Dominique Dawes Academy in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
And yes, we talked gymnastics. But our conversation was about so much more than gymnastics. We spoke about how she doesn’t do flips and her amazing tumbles anymore- she’s moved on from that stage.
We talked about perfection, comparison, and social media.
We talked about faith, purpose and raising children who know who they are beyond what they accomplish.
And honestly, I walked away thinking about how relevant her story is to all of us.
The trap of perfection.
Gymnastics has long been associated with perfection.
The perfect 10. The perfect routine. The perfect landing. The perfect body. The perfect performance.
But behind the pursuit of perfection can be an enormous amount of pressure.
Dominique spoke openly about the culture she experienced as a young gymnast and some of the toxic expectations she had to fight against. She also spoke about how rewarding it is to surround yourself with positive people who believe in you.
That part of our conversation really stayed with me.
Because while most of us aren’t training for the Olympics, the pressure to be perfect hasn’t disappeared.
It just looks different. Comparing ourselves to other people’s journey, accomplishments and feeling like we’re either stuck or behind is a byproduct of giving too much attention to others. It’s a sign that we have to put the phone down, pause the podcast and dedicate time to our growth.
Today, children are growing up surrounded by curated images of what success, beauty, achievement and even family life are supposed to look like. The filters can get out of control, I get a little beauty filter but the bigger lips filters and thinner noses, are dangerous! They’re sending a message to our youth that their bodies aren’t enough. That they have to reach a beauty standard.
And adults are doing the same thing.
We scroll through social media and see someone’s highlight reel and unconsciously compare it to our behind the scenes.
When I was helping my husband through medical school, we were strapped for money and struggling to make ends meet. I would look at vacations and just dream of vacationing and getting rest for family. I would hear people say if things like, “if you’re broke, don’t even watch this video- stick to your budget, this video is only for my bougie girlies.” Just mean! Making people feel less than and I immediately hit the “not interested” button.
Click to watch the video here:
Don’t allow anyone to make you feel less than who you are. We are all going through seasons and changes. Your value and worth isn’t dependent on someone’s fancy vacations or material things. These are material possessions that we are to enjoy, not to make people feel reduced. A confident person understands that life, value and the human connection is greater than stuff. We have to check and address our insecurities- understand our purpose to be a better global citizen contributing to make it a better place. We are here to serve one another. How can I serve you to help you fulfill your God-given calling?
Your life is more precious than the things we’re obsessing over.
Your accomplishments are impressive.
Your zip code offers you great opportunities.
Your vacations seem very fun- you’re living your dreams.
But they don’t define who you are. Your legacy is the impact you have on people.
What are you remembered for?
How do you treat people?
Who are you when you stop comparing?
One of the things I appreciated most about my conversation with Dominique was the emphasis on accepting who you are. Not the version of yourself you think will get the most applause. Not the version that looks best online. Not the version that meets someone else’s expectations. You. There is so much freedom in understanding that you don’t have to become someone else to be valuable.
Thank you for reading! I'd love to hear from you- which of my content resonates the most with you? Which topics adds most value? Let me know!
Peace and love!
Truly,
Rachel
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