Let Go! Nobody’s Perfect

I live, I love, I laugh, I cry. I’m not perfect. No one is, not you or I. ~ Unk

Meaning of Perfect

Are you striving to be perfect? Have you made mistakes? Are you judgmental of self and others? What does perfect mean and look like to you?

In our modern day, perfect means absolute, complete and without defects or faults. Though, Anoine de Saint-Exupery describes it best: "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." You have heard that no two snowflakes are alike. Likewise no two human beings are alike. We are all unique. Therefore, we do not want, or need, the same thing. We do not look, feel or think the same thing. The fact is being perfect is in the mind of the beholder.

I have an inner circle of friends who I trust. And, because they trust me, they tend to share their deepest thoughts, feelings and experiences in their daily lives. Not too long ago, I was catching up with one of those friends and I started to share something that happened awhile ago. My friend asked: "Why is it that I share nearly everything with you and you don’t share hardly any of your life with me?" Her feelings were hurt. I really did not have an intelligent answer for her, which made me feel bad too. I knew I was keeping things from my friends (that was a mistake). On one hand, I knew it was not cool, but on the other hand, I did not want to burden them with my first-world problems. I thought I was being the perfect friend. It turns out, nobody’s perfect!

Seven Tips to Reduce Stress and Let Go of Being Perfect

And eventually being perfect became like carrying a backpack filled with bricks every single day.... What is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself. ~ Anna Quindlen

Life is short. We should focus on striving for joy in life and less on stressing about being perfect. On some level we all desire to be excellent in our everyday lives. But, excellence does not equate to being perfect. Excellence simply means eclipsing mediocrity. The popular media’s idea of being perfect is looking like, dressing like and modeling the storied lives of celebrities. But, the headlines are full of news stories exposing their imperfect lives. Striving to be perfect is a drag on bliss. Listen to the voice and vision of positive affirmation and let go of being perfect. Here’s how:

1. Accept being perfect is a mirage (it does not exist).
2. Set your own expectations (live for your own ideals).
3. Do not put limitations on yourself.
4. Dare to try something new.
5. Use mistakes as an opportunity for reflection and correction.

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