“Wholeness does not mean perfection. It means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life.” ~Parker J. Palmer
When we stop chasing perfection and embrace all of our lives and who we are (including those broken places in our lives), we discover that we were whole all along. We just couldn’t see it when we were blinded by a goal of “perfect.”
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“If I waited until I had all my ducks in a row, I’d never get across the street. Sometimes you just have to gather up what you’ve got and make a run for it.” ~Judge Lynn Toler⠀
Conditions will likely never be perfect for you to follow your dream, start that new thing, or make the change you’re considering. That’s ok. Do it anyway! You’ll get farther by doing your best with what you’ve got than you will by waiting forever for a mythical perfect before starting.
Image created with a stock photo from a Canva subscription package.
“Perfectionism is just fear in fancy shoes and a mink coat.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert
Perfectionism isn’t the virtue it claims to be. It’s just the same old fear of not being good enough hiding in a different costume.
Once you see through its disguise and learn that your worth has nothing to do with your performance, this harsh taskmaster will lose its power over you.
“The route to wholeness is not perfection but embracing the realities of our lives.” ~David G. Benner
The gold of our healing often comes more through our embrace of our lives and ourselves exactly as they are than through any movement toward a perfect ideal. Finding the beauty in our imperfections brings much more peace than the striving for perfection ever can.
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There’s a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.” ~Leonard Cohen (from the song “Anthem”)
These lyrics have been on my mind a lot in the last couple of weeks—partially because of Leonard Cohen’s death last week and partially because I needed this reminder.
As a perfectionist, I tend to want to wait to act or speak until I have devised the perfect response to the moment, but that means I too often never do or say anything.
I appreciate the reminder that a perfect offering is not what is needed. What is needed is for me to show up and offer whatever it is I have to give for the healing and renewal of the world around me, no matter how imperfect my offering may be.
What are you able to give to the world around you here and now—no matter how imperfect it may be? Will you offer it anyway?