Note: This post is an excerpt of an off-and-on (mostly off) work in progress that may one day become a publishable manuscript. The book’s purpose is to step people through raising their vibrations through the readings, exercises and the accompanying original graphic. This world currently seems to be motivated by anger, fear and our differences, not by love, acceptance and our similarities. This is one person’s attempt to add some small positive thoughts to the earth.
To banish imperfection is to destroy expression, to check exertion, to paralyze vitality. ― John Ruskin
One of my all-time favorite books, A Course In Miracles, teaches us that we need not be perfect. Conflict arises when we feel like we must be. Mass media doesn’t help. Constant reminders of how much better our life will be if only we buy these shoes, paint our walls this year’s hottest color and cook our chicken in the correct way assail us. It’s useful to remember that usually people are simply trying to sell us stuff we probably don’t need. Or they’re trying to get eyeballs on their page, thus the provocative headlines.
The flip side of this is the people, maybe a teacher, a guru or a crush, we deem to be perfect but aren’t. This makes us less than perfect ourselves. It also does a disservice to the other person and gets in the way of a truly fulfilling relationship. It puts distance between us and this other person because they’ve been placed on a pedestal they likely never asked for. When our idols turn out to be as human as we are, we often react in anger as if we were betrayed.
Situations, people and our own selves will always seem imperfect and that’s okay. In comparing ourselves to others, we may find ourselves lacking. Or we may judge them to be lacking. Part of the challenge here is to remember that we see only our part of the story. We truly don’t know why that person is doing that thing. Understanding that they may have their reasons is a good start. It doesn’t mean we have to accept their reasoning.
Time has this habit of being the great equalizer. When we recall an embarrassing or traumatic event years after we discover it wasn’t so bad after all. In fact, this seemingly less than perfect event may have taught us something.
The Exercise:
As usual, pausing and recognizing when we expect the impossible is extremely useful. Knowing that others experience the same thing in differing ways helps. It is important to remember that we all have our struggles. Not everybody shows it for a variety of reasons, or in the way you expect.
There is a lot of pressure from television, magazines, the web and social media for perfection. Unrealistic expectations are created. Frustration and anger may result when you or your efforts don’t measure up. Remember that it’s one thing to do your best and try your hardest and quite another to strive for an impossible goal. When social media begins making you feel inadequate, remember that most people only post their highlight reels.
Web articles about things you’re doing wrong are meant to prey on your insecurities. When I see such articles now I recall the one that told me the 31 ways I was cooking chicken wrong and I tell myself I didn’t know there 31 ways to do that let alone 31 wrong ways.
Even with the drawing below I can see many mistakes and imperfections in such a simple piece. I’ve learned to see these errors as evidence of my breath. It is impossible to be perfect when drawing and painting entirely freehand. I know this from experience. So the little wobbles and imperfections somehow connect me, the artist, to you, the reader.
Journey of a Lifetime 