“Perfectly perfect perfection.

Isn’t this an alluring sentiment? I’d be lying if I didn’t aspire for it for most of my career.

I falsely believed that if I had just enough time, just enough money, just enough resources/connections/awards/followers, I could create a perfect project for my business.

Heck, who am I kidding? I believed that if I had enough of enough, I could have a perfect business.

But I’ve learned over the years that perfection doesn’t exist. At all. Perfection is entirely subjective. So while I wasted time trying to perfect an idea, I was just really wasting time procrastinating.

Perfection is procrastination in a fancy costume. Procrastination tricks you into believing that the more time you spend making something “perfect” more people will love it, want it, and buy it.

But lemme break it to you, buttercup…

• What you think is Perfect could be perceived as Imperfect by thousands of people.
• What you think is Imperfect could be perceived as Perfect by thousands of people.

So this is me, sending you a note encouraging you to share your brilliance with the world…IN A PERFECTLY IMPERFECT WAY.

Show up every day. Share your ideas. Speak your truth. Create content you’re proud of. In short: stop wasting time wondering “What if…” and instead put it out and say, “Let’s see…”

We’re out here, waiting to see what you share…so make it, post it, and get excited to let go of the pressure of perfection and embrace the joy of being authentically you.” – Jasmine Star

This is an email I received this morning from a social media guru and photographer, Jasmine Star.  As I read it, I agreed so much to it.  Perfection doesn’t exist.  It’s a hard lesson to learn.  Here’s part of my journey.

Honest truth time:  I was told in grade 7 from a classmate that I was “the perfect one” and since then I have believed that lie and have tried to base my everything on that statement.  And each time I didn’t reach perfection, I felt like a failure.  And it is exhausting!  Anyone else believed this lie?

So when I read this email this morning I loved how it triggered a new path in my brain.

• What you think is Perfect could be perceived as Imperfect by thousands of people.
• What you think is Imperfect could be perceived as Perfect by thousands of people.

How often have you thought your imperfect could be perceived as perfect by others?  Someone is looking at your life right now and thinking “I want her/his life because …..”.  How often do we look at our mistakes and imperfections and wish for something else?  We are tricked by perfection, thinking we can earn it, buy it, or achieve it.  What lies have you believed that are now warped truths?

How do you replace those perfect lies?  They can only be changed through new and opposite experiences.  Here is your homework for the next few days: Write down some of those lies you have believed and replace it with the truth of who you are and who God says you are. (Hint: it’s usually the opposite of the lie!)  My lie was that I need to be perfect to be accepted.  My truth is that Jesus was the only perfect human and it is ok to make mistakes.  John 8:32 says “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” And the truth is, on this earth I will never be perfect no matter how hard I try or appear but I can take my experiences, mistakes and all and learn from them, and in turn share my experiences with others.  So with this lie and others, I’m slowly learning to replace the lies that I have believed.   But take it from me, this journey takes time to retain your brain.  And it is a journey.  One with ups and downs, and lots of emotion, but in the end it will be worth it.  Your future self will thank you.

We have been given a gift.  A new day.  There is a quote by L.M. Montgomery that says, ” Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” Each day is a gift where we each have the ability to look past what we think is imperfect and replace the lies in our heads with truth.  No matter what limbic lie we have believed, God always speaks to us in terms of His love, His acceptance , and His grace.  Believe this truth:  YOU ARE UNCONDITIONALLY LOVED BY GOD!

So embrace the imperfect.  Create a life with what you are given.  Work hard yes, but leave room for mistakes.  It’s in the mistakes that we learn and grow.  And you never know, those imperfect moments and story may change the life of someone else if you take off the perfection mask and are real with yourself and to others.  And don’t forget to repeat those truths daily – it’s the only way to retrain your brain and replace the lies with the truth.

What’s your story?!  Be sure to tell it to someone soon!