Perfectly Imperfect

Have you ever struggled with being perfect? Desiring to be without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings and wishing you did everything right the first time without any mistakes. I've spent most of my life striving for these unrealistic expectations for myself and therefore have spent most of my life falling flat on my face and wondering why life was just so painful. Out of suffering and disappointment I have eventually come to the realization that perfection does not exist. Perfection is a concept that is unattainable, and I started realizing the importance of embracing imperfection

Experts define perfectionism as combination of excessively high personal standards and overly critical self-evaluation. There are 3 main types of perfectionism which are...

-Self oriented perfectionism-occurs when individuals attach irrational importance to being perfect, hold unrealistic expectations of themselves, and are critical of themselves.

- Other oriented perfectionism- holds others to high standards and are judgemental and critical of others

- Socially prescribed perfectionism- when an individuals self-worth is tied up with high expectations others hold for them.

"The thing that is really hard and really amazing is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself" Anna Quindlen. Imperfection is relatable and it means to be incomplete which means there is plenty of room for growth! Perfectionism limits us by removing the ability to grow. Perfectionism can have serious affects on our mental and physical health. Some issues that can be linked to Perfectionism are anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, high blood pressure, and chronic stress. I'm not perfect, you're not perfect, and this blog isn't perfect but in the imperfection is the growth and beauty in the commonality of the human experience.