It’s a new year!
And so of course, I’m reflecting on the past year like so many people are. 2021 wasn’t a particularly horrible year for me, but I definitely wouldn’t consider it as one of my best years either. And honestly, as I look back at the past 12 months, a lot of it feels like a blur.
I realize that I’ve spent a lot of time mentally entangled in a web we all fall into at some time or another- the need to be perfect.
I think the idea of ‘perfection’ and my desire to obtain it has caused me to waste a lot of time this year. And in ways that I didn’t realize until I’m looking back.
I think I spent so much time just missing out on being present in my life because the settings weren’t right, or my space wasn’t aesthetic enough, or I didn’t want others to see that ‘imperfect’ version of my life. Does that make any sense? Let me explain.
The past couple of years, I’ve fallen more and more into this habit of not letting anyone else see a version of me that isn’t the best possible visual representation of myself.
I won’t post photos on Instagram that I don’t think look professional or aesthetic.
I won’t take photos of my home because it doesn’t quiiiiiite look like my Pinterest board.
I won’t leave the house wearing leggings and a sweatshirt because I’m afraid I’ll meet someone new and the first impression of me will be that I’m too lazy to put on a cute outfit.
I won’t even begin writing a blog post (as you can probably tell by the fact that it’s been months since I’ve posted) because for some reason I’m afraid to put anything out into the world that isn’t absolutely flawless.
And while I’m doing these things, it seems normal. But looking back, I realize that the fear of seeming imperfect is keeping me from not only making progress with anything, but it’s also keeping me from living my life.
This blog could have been so much more by now, I could have reached out to so many more people, written so many more words, but instead, it’s been 4 months since I’ve posted anything. I’ve literally been standing still.
I guess the whole point of this rant is just to tell you out there to be careful not to make the same mistakes I’ve made. Don’t let this need for perfection keep you from living a happy life. Because it’s honestly not worth it.
And another piece of hard truth- no one cares about how ‘perfect’ you are.
Because no one else is perfect either. I mean for me, I’ve gotten to the point in my own social space where I’m unfollowing people who seem too ‘perfect’.
I find comfort in seeing someone’s unmade bed or messy kitchen or their un-brushed hair or their blog posts with typos.
Because it shows me that everyone (yeah, literally everyone) is just a normal, flawed human who is incapable of getting everything right 100% of the time.
So I encourage you, let today be the day that you stop striving for perfection and instead start living your life to the fullest- exactly as it is.
Post the picture even if your house is a mess.
Write that post, even if the words don’t sound as eloquent as you want them to.
Walk out of the house in your sweats (they’re way more comfortable anyway).
Just be yourself. Live your life. Be who you are. Stop trying to be perfect. And stop hiding the imperfect pieces of yourself.
This is also my promise to you, my readers. To show up, to show you the imperfect and flawed parts of myself, to try to help you, and not because I think I have all the right answers but rather because I think you and I may be walking through a lot of the same things.
I promise to be that person you can count on to give you an honest, no filter, representation of what my life is really like, the struggles I face, and what I’m doing to grow as a person day by day.
You have no idea how empowering it feels to let go of all of the pressure I’ve been putting on myself this past year. I hope that you can let go of that same pressure and begin to enjoy life as well.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this post. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.
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