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Even though we know that perfection doesn’t exist that doesn’t stop many of us from trying to achieve it.

We want perfectly flat abs. Perfectly sculpted arms. Perfectly muscular legs.

A perfect number on the scale. A perfect way of eating. A perfect way to weight loss.

A perfect life.

In September, research professor and writer Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, started a perfect protest in honor of her recently released book, The Gifts of Imperfection: Letting Go of Who We Think We Should Be and Embracing Who We Are.

In her post on the perfect protest, she writes:

For many years I believed that being my best self meant trying to be perfect. After studying shame, authenticity, and courage for ten years, I realized that I was wrong. Yes, it took that long. I’m hardheaded and I was very invested in being right. Here’s what I learned:

Being our best selves is about cultivating the courage to be vulnerable, authentic, and  imperfect. Perfectionism, on the other hand, is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect, and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame. It’s that simple. Perfection is not about healthy striving or being our best, it’s how we protect ourselves.

Many blogs have joined Brown in celebrating imperfection – I actually found out about the protest from two of my fave bloggers, Joy Tanksley and Susannah Conway – and I hope you’ll join in too.

So here’s my Perfect Protest:

I am 28 with wrinkles on my face.

I have a good-sized scar almost in the middle of my forehead from chicken pox that’s been there since second grade.

Sometimes my stomach looks like I’m with child.

I worry way too much what others think – even strangers.

I can’t parallel park. Really. Like at all.

If I’m at my computer and feeling stressed out, I visit people.com.

I’m typing this up while wearing a baseball cap and sweats. And there are dirty dishes in the sink.

I whine when I don’t get my way.

A lot of times, I wish I were more clever.

I second-guess myself.

I compare myself to others.

I eat dessert after dinner every day – sometimes I eat another dessert later.

Sometimes, I undereat; sometimes, I overeat.

I don’t like to share my feelings often.

I usually don’t even like feeling them, even though I know emotions are important bits of information.

I have a hard time relaxing.

I can spend many – very many – minutes agonizing to find the “right” word for my posts and other writing pieces.

I’m wordy.

And all of this is OK.

—

After she shares her list of imperfections, here’s how Susannah ends her post:

In other words, i’m too busy being a vibrant, contrary, fleshy, determined, silly, passionate, unique human being to be perfect.

Wow. I love that! Perfection is an illusion.

So why chase after something that’s the equivalent of the tooth fairy your whole life? (Santa is different.)

Yes, I also have to keep reminding myself of this – many times throughout the day – especially because I’m afraid of making mistakes.

I just finished writing up an article on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and one of the experts said something along the lines of, hey, sure, playing it safe and not making mistakes might keep your ego from getting banged up but it also leads to a pretty boring life.

So today I encourage you to acknowledge your imperfections – body-wise or otherwise – and celebrate them.

In her perfect protest post, Karen Walrond, who blogs at Chookooloonks (which I recently discovered and is quickly becoming a favorite; plus, she also went to Texas A&M like me!) ends her imperfect confession with “and still, I’m worthy of love.” And she encourages her readers to do the same.

I love that, too. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t want to improve and challenge ourselves. But that’s so different from seeking perfection.

You are enough. And you’re worthy of love. Plus, as Brown’s sign in her post reads, you’re “too brave to be perfect,” anyway.

Today’s favorite post. “Mentoring One Moment at a Time” by Shannon Cutts at Mentoring & Recovery.

What makes you you? What are your quirks? What are your imperfections? Why are you too busy to be perfect? Share and celebrate your imperfections in the comments!

Have a fabulous Friday and weekend!

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    Last reviewed: 19 Oct 2010