Killing The Idea Of Being Perfect.
My obsession with being good at everything needed to end.
I always felt the need to be good at everything I do. For me, this has shown up through creativity, in my personal relationships, and even in how I think about everyday life. Simply, in my mind, I used to believe that being good at everything equaled safety. You would be seen as someone who knows what they’re doing, and you wouldn’t be judged harshly. Being the best girlfriend, being the best fashion designer, and being the best author were all a part of the plan. I never truly allowed myself to be seen in imperfection. We obviously know that being perfect doesn’t exist, but being close to it is what many people aim for. Imperfection is beautiful because it allows you to grow within it or even to grow beyond it.
It makes us human.
This time around, I have been balancing so many projects and always seem to end up in burnout. This is the first time I actually sat down with myself in silence after writing or sewing, and asked myself the most important questions I have been avoiding all this time.
Why are you trying to be perfect at something you are doing for the first time? Why are you burning out even if it’s doing something you love?
The answer was that I never gave myself grace, never permitted myself to just enjoy something without making it a job. All hobbies turned into ideas on how to monetize off of them, when, truly, they were hobbies that gave me peace. As I came across the harsh reality of my chase for validation and perfectionism, it was the day I had to put it all down. The stress, the weight of being good at everything.
So, ladies, you need to understand that it’s okay to fail sometimes. It’s alright to not know your next step, or to know the answer to every question. Second place is not embarrassing; it is an opportunity to grow, to learn from others. You may not be the best girlfriend because you have your flaws, you may not be the best seamstress because you missed a stitch, and you may not be the best writer because there is a world full of them.
PLEASE GIVE YOURSELF THE GRACE AND THE PERMISSION TO BE IMPERFECT!
-Living Chapters