I don’t remember much from my High School French class–the least of which is much of the French language. However, I did take one thing away that I’ve never managed to forget.

My teacher stood before the class and boldly declared: C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron.

He said it meant practice makes perfect.

I was pretty sure that the translation wasn’t literal, so I looked it up and found something that held so much more meaning for me than the cliche platitude I heard all the time.

The translation of the French saying was: It is blacksmithing that makes the blacksmith. Or, it is forging that makes the forger.

Few of start out pursuing perfection. Most of us just want to be what and who we want to be and are wondering how to become that. Once a decision is made on a Desire, it is up to you to practice the being, doing or having of that thing until it is manifested.

Practice makes perfect? Sure it does.
But being makes you be, doing makes it done, and having makes it had too regardless of how perfect or imperfect the result is.

Expand your vision. Look beyond the world of cliches. Find out what life really means and how stuff really works. Mold the platitudes to serve your purpose. Practice makes perfect becomes:

Coaching makes the coach.
Writing makes the writer.
Speaking makes the speaker.
Loving makes the lover.
Giving makes the giver.

And so on.

Screw perfection. Just get in the habit of doing and being first and you may soon have perfection and more.

When we see an athlete or musician perfectly execute a challenging routine, we know it came from practice. But their practice started with a decision and a commitment to be, to do and to have. Have you made that decision yet? Are you committed? Are you ready to forge?

C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron.

Go forth and be made.

Image Credit: Weightwatchers