Perfectly Imperfect: 12 Reasons Why Imperfect is Perfect

It’s taken me a long time to get here. To get to the point where I’m ready to embrace my flaws and realise that, without them, life would be vastly different.

Without these imperfections, what would I be? Would I still be me? Deep down we all want to be perfect, maybe because you think everyone else is and you aren’t, but here’s the thing: imperfect is perfect.

The pursuit of perfection is a constant in the lives of many people. We want to do everything perfectly, be perfect and avoid any flaws or imperfections.

However, when we strive for perfectionism it can lead to stress and anxiety as well as make us too self-critical. It also makes others feel inadequate in our presence which could lead to feeling lonely or isolated.

The idea that imperfection is actually what makes something perfect needs encouragement so that people will work towards their best qualities instead of letting them go unnoticed because they’re not “perfect”.

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Negative effects of perfectionism

Perfectionism is a fear-driven desire to avoid failing or making mistakes at all costs, even if those mistakes are necessary for growth.

Believing that being perfect is necessary for being happy or content means you’re not going to be as happy as a person who has a healthy attitude towards their self-esteem and how they perceive other people’s opinions of them.

An unhealthy attitude can often make you feel like there’s never a good time to be happy or content with yourself because you always have something you could improve on. Some of the negative impacts of perfectionism are:

• It makes people insecure because they believe others are perfect and therefore judge themselves in comparison.

• It makes people unable to function normally in society because they are constantly fearing judgement from others.

• It makes people have a higher sense of self-criticism and lowers their self-esteem which can lead to more extreme cases of depression.

• Perfectionists are constantly seeking new ways to improve themselves, which is a motivating factor for success but also takes up so much time that they do not have the chance to be happy.

• Often when perfection is strived for, it can result in a lack of creativity because everything must be perfect before it’s produced or released into society.

• It makes people set higher goals for themselves which leads to an increase in stress as they feel that they always have to be doing more and achieving greater things.

In reality, it’s OK to not be perfect. It’s OK to fail and make mistakes from time to time because people who strive for perfection don’t get a chance to explore their own imperfections which can certainly provide a lot of learning opportunities.

12 Reasons why imperfect is perfect

1. It’s beautiful

There is a reason why nature looks so beautiful. The Grand Canyon, the Amazon rainforest and the statue of David are just a few examples that show us that nature can exist in a variety of different shapes and forms without it being wrong or bad.

Imitating this outlook on life can help people have a healthier approach to their own lives because instead of thinking that they have to be perfect, people would realise that the different shapes and forms in nature are what makes them so beautiful.

Rather than being afraid of your flaws or imperfections, you can learn to celebrate them because these are the qualities which make you interesting.

2. It allows us to be more accepting

If we were all perfect, then nobody would be able to relate to anybody else. Nobody would be able to help others because there wouldn’t be anything that they needed help with since everyone would have their life completely worked out.

Even though it’s important not to obsess over what imperfection you are lacking in due to your desire for perfectionism, getting rid of this negative mentality can help you be more accepting of yourself and hopefully others.

3. It allows us to put more emotional investment into our relationships

People who are heavily involved in their pursuit for perfection often neglect the people around them because they are so caught up in what they have to do next or how everything is going wrong.

Humans are social creatures so finding your place within a community can help you discover who you are, what you’re good at and what your values are.

Letting go of this need to be perfect can help people learn to relax and enjoy what they’re doing because it’s not going to be the end of the world if things don’t go according to plan.

Read also: How Self-Improvement Can Improve Your Relationship

4. It helps us find our voice

When we stop worrying about being perfect, we can start to explore who we really are as a person rather than trying to imitate or follow somebody else’s path because it seems like the logical choice. The only way a human being can learn about themselves is through time and by venturing off the beaten path.

5. It allows you to make a difference in the world

If we were all perfect, then there would be no distinction between good or bad because nobody would have anything they’d need to work on.

Realising that we all have strengths and weaknesses can help us accept ourselves and realise that we’re not perfect but we still deserve just as much love and respect as anybody else on this planet.

Being able to embrace your imperfections rather than thinking they are something you need to work on can also help you learn how to stand up for yourself and others.

6. It gives us a reason to celebrate

Life is a never-ending journey of learning, experiencing and understanding.

If we didn’t have any obstacles or challenges that we had to work through, then there wouldn’t be anything stopping us from achieving our goals. In fact, these struggles are what make life worth living because it’s how we grow and learn to adapt and change.

7. It gives us a sense of belonging

People work better in communities and everybody has something that they can teach somebody else. If we all had the same strengths and weaknesses then we wouldn’t be learning from each other and nobody would be able to relate to anybody else because we’d all have the same experiences and knowledge.

In order for us to feel connected and to have a sense of belonging, we should all realise that it’s okay for everybody to not be perfect. That way, we can celebrate our differences instead of trying to hide them or pretending that they don’t exist.

8. It’s what makes you unique

Everybody has their own way of thinking, the same views on the world and their own opinions. If everybody was perfect then nobody would be unique, they’d just blend into the background because they’re not special enough to stand out.

Finding your place in this world starts with being confident in who you are as a person and being able to accept yourself, warts and all.

9. You can learn a lot from your flaws

The best way to make progress and learn about who we really are is by looking at the things we don’t like about ourselves.

By learning what our flaws are, we can then try to fix them or find ways of coping with these weaknesses so that it no longer impacts on our lives as much as it used to. This is why it’s important to embrace your imperfections instead of trying to pretend they don’t exist because it’s by looking at what you can’t do that you’ll find out exactly what you can do.

10. It makes us grow

There are some mistakes that only come around once in a lifetime but there are also some things that you’re going to have to deal with on an almost daily basis.

When you fall flat on your face, the only way of getting back up is by dusting yourself off and doing it all over again until you get it right. By embracing our imperfections, we can learn how to progress and grow as a person.

Read also: How Self-Improvement Can Improve Your Relationship

11. It shows us what the world is capable of

Despite being human, it’s amazing how resilient Mother Nature can be when she has to be. Whether it’s an earthquake or a tsunami, everybody should realise that the world isn’t going to stop turning just because of a few glitches here and there.

What this does show us is that the world is full of surprises and that it’s never going to be perfect but we get the chance to see how strong we really are when put under pressure.

12. It reminds us that life is precious

The last reason why imperfect is perfect is because it reminds us that every day is a gift and that none of us are guaranteed the next day. We should do everything in our power to make sure that we’re happy with how we live our lives

Rather than spending all day wishing you could have more money, it’s better off spending the day appreciating what’s already there because you never know when it might all be taken away.

Dealing with imperfections is difficult but it’s often a necessary step in order to fix the things that we don’t want, so embrace them and use them as a guide for how you can improve your life.

Read also: How To Be Happy With What You Have: 7 Secret Steps

How to better deal with imperfection

Be thankful for the good in your life – This is because when we have so much to be grateful for, it makes us happier and more positive in general.

Allow yourself to do something imperfectly – When you’re doing something that doesn’t need to be perfect, allow yourself to be okay with eyeballing it. Sometimes it’s better to get things done quickly instead of focusing on the little details, especially if they’re not important.

Embrace your quirks – Everybody has something about them that isn’t perfect but everybody also has their own special thing that makes them unique.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – If you don’t make any mistakes then you’re not taking any risks. Why play it safe when there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored?

Trust your gut – When we listen to our instincts, that’s when the magic happens because they’ve warned us of things that are worth paying attention to.

Accept what you can’t control – It sounds simple but it’s not easy to accept something when you don’t want it to happen. However, if you can learn to control your emotions in these situations then it could strengthen your character.

Live in the moment – This is one of the hardest things for many people but when we live in the moment and appreciate what we have in that particular second, it makes the future so much brighter.

Forgive – Nobody’s perfect and there’s always going to be people who let you down. It’s better to forgive somebody for their mistakes and move on with your own life instead of dwelling on the things that have already been done.

Read also: Being Intentional With Your Life: 12 Ways to be Intentional Every Day

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Why imperfect is the new perfect: The takeaway

As human beings, we’re always looking for perfection but it doesn’t need to be this way. We should embrace the fact that life isn’t perfect and that it never will be because if we do then that gives us a greater appreciation of what’s around us now.

Even though we’re all different, imperfections are what make us unique. We should stop trying to be perfect and learn to embrace the fact that there’s nothing wrong with being a little bit imperfect.

Respect yourself – You are perfect just the way you are.