LEARNING TO EMBRACE IMPERFECTION

Have you ever been in a grocery store and accidentally knocked over a pickle or jam jar or in my case, Frank’s RedHot sauce? Yup, it happened, at Walmart, everybody noticed, it was everywhere. Awkwardly, surrounding shoppers pretended it didn’t happen, some looked over with shame. Don't get me wrong, I didn't blame them, it was my error, my mishap. Perhaps I should have shared the incident on Instagram, that imperfect moment, but alas no, how could I when seemingly the world idolizes perfection.

It begs the question, is there such a thing as imperfection? It doesn’t seem so, surely not on social media anyway. Yet we all know it exists, we are all living proof. So, why do we try so hard to disguise our flaws? We all have weaknesses, shortcomings, physical and mental deficiencies. These characteristics are actually what make us unique and special. These flaws are precisely what makes us all different, diverse and extraordinary.

Truthfully, authenticity and genuineness are underrated in this day and age and the facade of perfection only causes suffering, pain, anxiety, and a multitude of other unhealthy symptoms. This is not to say that we should relinquish self-care or ditch striving to do our best, but putting undue pressure on ourselves can prevent us from being our authentic selves and from enjoying our purposed life. Just because we are imperfect doesn’t mean we are unworthy of love. Our imperfections are what enable us to recognize there is a greater love, a perfect and loving God who embraces us just as we are. In fact, we are God's masterpieces, a truth we should take to heart.

Alternatively, Eastern cultures seem to have less difficulty in embracing imperfections. For instance, Wabi-Sabi, a Japanese worldview “focuses on finding the beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay.” This traditional concept celebrates the beauty in the worn, weathered, unfinished, brokenness in the everyday. A fascinating ethos to live by.

Finding a sense of joy in the way things are, rather than how we would like them to be, could prove to be liberating. Let's make a better effort to abandon our preconceived notion of “perfect” and find acceptance, value, and beauty in our human-ness. Let go of your perceived inadequacies and take a step in accepting the wholeness of your being. This may seem easier said than done, nevertheless, all things considered, I can say one thing for sure, I left Walmart that day embracing my imperfections a little more and feeling, well…SSSPICY!