Imperfections are often perceived as a negative, as something to be ashamed of, but I see imperfections in a different light. I believe that our differences and eccentricities are what set us apart and make us unique individuals.
In the society we live in today, we’re almost expected to be impeccable and exhibit perfection in everything we do. However, absolute perfection is nonexistent. We each have our faults. These differences and flaws make us stand out from the rest; they allow us to be remembered and appreciated for who we really are.
We all have something we are currently going through or something that we’ve been through in the past, whether it’s learning from our mistakes, accepting disabilities that we simply have no control over, living with life’s challenges or struggling with other difficult issues. We have all experienced tough times and have felt insecure at some point.
Not caring what others think about you is a point we all struggle to reach. We’ve all been there. You should know that you’re not alone. It’s not unusual for people to feel this way. In fact, I’ve struggled my entire life with the pursuit of perfectionism. With my desire-to-please-people personality and competitive nature, it has been a part of me since I was very young.
My illusion of perfectionism seeped into every aspect of my life. I believed that if I looked perfect, acted perfectly and lived perfectly then others would not judge me. By living in a perfect world I could ultimately avoid the painful feelings of shame, judgment and blame.
Whenever something happened that was less than perfect, it became a flaw or failure that I would constantly dwell on for every moment of my day. After many disappointments, I noticed that the perfectionistic goals I had set for myself were unattainable. I still tried though.
Then, about three years ago, I had an epiphany. I lost three family members and two close friends in less than four month’s time. That was when I realized that life is too short and too precious to spend every single day of my life obsessing over everything being perfect.
We all handle things differently, but I learned it’s paramount to bounce back from these trials and tribulations that life throws at us and grow from these experiences.
I should be completely honest and admit that I still continue to struggle with these issues. I find myself striving for something that isn’t feasible. When I examine myself, I try my absolute best not to focus or dwell on what I perceive to be flaws. I have managed to accept some things, but I am still a work in progress.
If we, as humans, can understand that there is nothing wrong with being different or being imperfect then we can begin the self-realization stage. By accepting these self-perceived shortcomings as part of the bigger picture, then we come to realize that we each have our own journey to go through in life. We must accept that we are humans who are meant to have flaws.
I want to inspire others to share their gifts with the world; make peace with our piece in progress as well as with ourselves. After all, isn’t it the quirks and idiosyncrasies that we find appealing in others? So, be different. Be the real you!