An Imperfect Life

The pursuit of perfection is encouraged by those who would most profit from it…the salesman with a product to sell; the charlatan with an idea to market; the egotist with needs to be met.

At every turn we’re being pushed to be bigger or smaller, stronger or weaker, more powerful or more vulnerable. We’re told that we should be prettier or more handsome,  rich and famous.

Examples of perceived perfection are presented to us through the media. We’re told how we should look, how we should act and how we should live. We’re made feel that anything less is failure.  The reality, though, is that perfection is unattainable. There is no such level to be reached because the boundaries keep moving. The more an individual has, the more he wants. That’s the bitter truth. The sooner we realise that, the happier and more content we will be.

Small wonder then that stress and anxiety sit atop the list of problems being suffered by people around the world. Those who continually strive for something they will never have face a lifetime of disappointment. The pursuit of perfection is destroying relationships and killing people.

There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious; with having dreams. There’s no fault in working hard to improve our lives or the lives of those around us. It’s common sense to keep moving forward. But the target should not be the unrealistic and the unattainable. Home is a long way from Hollywood.

The objective should always be being the best possible version of ourselves. That’s achievable and realistic. That work doesn’t end. We can always try a little harder and be a little better. But it’s vital that we should be real and be true to ourselves.

That starts with getting to know ourselves, accepting ourselves and loving ourselves. That’s at the core of building an imperfect life.