Getting to Good Enough

Shannon attended protests in Portland in support of Black Lives Matter just a few days before we recorded this episode. This week, Shannon and Janine talk about the challenges of having difficult conversations around systemic racism and Shannon shares what she's learned in recent weeks of activism. Discussion topics include: • The reason Shannon’s throat is scratchy: She participated in Black Live...

For many of us, the pandemic has made a tendency to procrastinate painfully obvious. We're not as busy, yet we're still procrastinating. But there's hope! This week Janine and Shannon talk about the four main productivity blocks and how they can be easy to get past. Discussion topics include: • The summer heat! • How these days we can’t blame being busy for not getting stuff done • The four main p...

Whether we like it or not, Zoom has become a part of the lives of many (if not most) of us, thanks to COVID-19. In this episode, Shannon and Janine letting go of perfectionism around Zoom to make it less stressful.  Discussion topics include: • The challenging transition from phone coaching to Zoom coaching for Shannon • Shannon’s iPad + computer set up that allows her to take notes on her la...

It's July already (finally?) and Janine and Shannon revisited the goals they set way back at the end of 2019. This week we discuss the value of taking some time to visit, and perhaps refresh, our goals in this year that took such an unexpected turn. Discussion topics include: • The paradox of 2020: It seems impossible that it’s the middle of the year already, yet the first half of the year feels l...

If you're uncomfortable with doing something imperfectly it's hard to learn new skills. In this episode, Shannon and Janine discuss opening yourself up to "perfect floundering" so that you can go ahead and do things that you don't already know how to do. Discussion topics include: • The discomfort of floundering, especially for perfectionists • The amazing prospect of striving to flounder perfectl...

What if you were able to shed your perfectionistic tendencies so that you could create something BIG in the service of doing GOOD? That's what our amazing guest, Vanessa Foerster, did less than a month ago when she created the Diversify Triathlon Movement. Janine and Shannon were thrilled to talk with her about the movement and how she had to let go of perfectionism in order to create it. Discussi...

If you feel overwhelmed by everything that's going on around you, it can be hard to do anything. In this episode, Shannon and Janine discuss how choosing just one thing to do can allow you to move forward. Discussion topics include: • Taking delight in little things in nature • Choosing just one thing to do—and doing it—when you’re feeling overwhelmed • How the current climate can be paralyzing&nb...

Voting is always important. But this year, at least in the U.S., being able to vote feels more important than ever. And because of the COVID crisis, voting might present a challenge this year. In this episode, Janine and Shannon discuss the value of planning ahead to vote and getting past any perfectionistic tendencies that might be getting in the way of that. Discussion topics include: • Our two-...

Protests over police brutality being met by police brutality. A global pandemic. Coming to terms with the fact that not being racist is not enough--we need to be anti-racist. All of these things can lead to a lot of discomfort. In this episode, Shannon and Janine discuss balancing the discomfort with the need to take action and the need to take care of ourselves. Discussion topics include: • The d...

We are taking this week to amplify black voices and share resources to learn more about becoming an ally and anti-racist. We are learning how to do this. We’ll make mistakes, listen, learn and keep trying to do better. Join us. To our black and brown listeners, we’re sorry it took us so long to get here. To our white listeners, here are our resources to help you be an ally and learn about anti-rac...

Just think how much easier life would be if you could enjoy imperfection rather than fretting about it. Shannon and Janine's discussion on enjoying imperfection this episode was sparked by some wonderful observations from Deborah Underwood, a children's book author. Discussion topics include: • The lovely words in a Facebook post from a successful children’s book author that sparked this post • En...

What's the opposite of judgment? It's compassion. That profound realization is what sparked this episode. This week, Janine and Shannon discuss the need to compassionate about our own perfectionism (and imperfections). And we discuss the importance of having compassion for others. Discussion topics include: • Janine’s efforts to let go of perfectionism prior to her first Zoom presentation • A reve...

Negotiations can be difficult when one person is a perfectionist and the other isn't. In this episode, Shannon and Janine address a question from a listener who is trying to work with an imperfectionist neighbor to replace a fence between their yards. Discussion topics include: • The gifts that our pets give us • The challenges of maximizers working with satisficers • How Shannon and her neighbor...

Making decisions can be particularly challenging for people who have perfectionistic tendencies. And with so much uncertainty right now, decision making is even harder. This week, Janine and Shannon discuss striving for good enough, rather than perfect, when making decisions. Discussion topics include: • Satisficers vs maximizers • How the maximizer likes to weigh all possible options in order to...

During this time of isolation, our friends are more important than ever. In this episode, Shannon and Janine discuss making and keeping friends, without letting perfectionism get in your way. Discussion topics include: • How a silver lining of the COVID pandemic is that we’re spending more time (virtually) with friends • A Zoom prank Janine and her college buddies played • We’re living in the futu...

This week Janine and Shannon are lifting a glass to this podcast's 100th episode. We spend this episode celebrating and sharing the lovely feedback and greetings we received from listeners in honor of our 100th episode. Discussion topics include: • How we promised one another we’d do the podcast until it stopped being fun—and it’s still fun! • How the podcast has exceeded our expectations • We nev...

Getting caught up in perfectionism can be short-sighted. This week, Shannon and Janine discuss the value of tolerating the discomfort of imperfection in order to stick with something and get better at it or enjoy it more. Discussion topics include: • How things are both easier and harder these days with the stay-at-home life • That Shannon’s trip to Portugal has by necessity been postponed • How S...

In this episode, recorded in early March before the COVID-19 crisis started keeping us at home, Janine and Shannon discuss one of their least favorite words, "should." Discussion topics include: • Janine’s delight that her RootsTech talk is behind her and her admiration at how well organized RootsTech is • How “shoulds” can weigh you down • That should is one of Janine’s least favorite words, and...

Navigating the waters of life during the coronavirus pandemic is challenging to say the least. This week, Shannon and Janine discuss the conflicting emotions they're feelings, along with some strategies for reducing stress and coping with the new challenges brought on by this crisis. Discussion topics include: • The difficulty of answering the question, "How are you doing?" these days • Conflictin...

Most of us are staying home to stay healthy and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. In this episode--recorded just three days prior to posting--Janine and Shannon discuss some of the challenges we're facing working from home in these strange times, despite the fact we've been working from home for years. Most of the changes are going on inside our heads! Discussion topics include: • How quic...

After talking last week about using what you have, Shannon and Janine turn this week to letting go of stuff as an alternative to using it up.  We even innovate a new monthly activity during the episode! Discussion topics include: • Some terminology for letting stuff go (for example, “release it” and “pass it along”) • The value of figuring out language that makes it easy for you to let stuff...

It's tempting to hang on to items to use for a special occasion. This week, Janine and Shannon discuss the benefits using what you have rather than buying new (perhaps more perfect) stuff. Discussion topics include: The thing that sparked this episode: • Shannon’s decision to use up her abundant supply of gift soaps rather than buying new  • The value of using things instead of saving “for go...

Bothered by an overabundance of paper and email? This episode is for you. Last week, Shannon and Janine discussed working through backlogs and this week we share some strategies for creating systems so those backlogs don't come back. Specifically we talk about ideas for email, snail mail and paper in general. Discussion topics include: • How having a system allows you to bounce back when stuff pil...

When stuff piles up in your home or office it can overwhelming to contemplate plowing through it and getting rid of the backlog. Add perfectionist tendencies to the equation and it can be even more challenging. In this episode, Janine and Shannon discuss some strategies for working through a backlog. Stay tuned next week when we discuss preventing pileups so the backlogs don't come back. Discussio...

Regret feels like a negative emotion, but in this episode, recorded in person in Walla Walla, Janine and Shannon discuss how considering regret can be a helpful barometer when making a decision. And they use a recent real-life set of decisions that brought them unexpectedly face to face to illustrate! Discussion topics include: • Janine’s decision to make an emergency trip to Walla Walla when her...