At various points in our lives, we form a ‘perfect picture’ of how things should be. An ideal, an image of what should be happening, what others should be doing and what we ourselves should be achieving. Unaware of this self-created illusion, we keep ourselves back, in a position where we are unable to move, to act and to be our authentic selves.
Doing what we love is often threatened by our need, our quest to be perfect. Afraid of not living up to our own or others expectations, we put things to one side, intending to pick them up when we are in that perfect place we dream of.
We love to sing, to dance, to act, to write, to travel, to teach Maths, but we tell ourselves that we are not able, not ready to fully embrace this path yet. We are not ready to sing this song to the world, to show ourselves in this light, because we have so much yet to learn, to discover, to improve on before we can do so. And so, transfixed by the perfect image, we choose to walk down other paths in life, live out other identities and versions of ourselves, allowing our hearts true loves to take place only in our dreams. We sleep and dream out the perfect, ‘unattainable’ scenarios and then on waking, we resume the real world.
What we are saying is that if we can’t be perfect at something, then we won’t do it at all. And this way of thinking is very destructive. “If I can’t be the perfect journalist, performer, cake-maker, artist, school teacher then I won’t do it at all.” We decide to live in pretence that we never cared or felt that way in the first place.
I used to think this way myself; that I’d only be able to do what I wanted to when I was perfect. I had ideas and visions clear in my mind of who I so wanted to be; the perfect yogi, the perfect person, in perfect health. “I’ll share yoga with others when I’m much more flexible and have full knowledge and skills myself. I’ll offer nutritional advice when I’m in peak form myself and have been through extensive training and read tons more books. I’ll contact Yoga Magazine when I’ve had a lot more life experience and gained more wisdom in the field.” But, I’ve learnt and am still learning that we can act the whole way along the stepping stones, and that it’s the time in the river that’s important – from the very first stone we tread.
I offer you a new perspective. A chance to get over the fear of not achieving perfection and just starting out no matter what, enjoying being present, feeling alive and having a good time with the first steps. Whatever it is that you really love to do, take hold of today. Be gentle, not forceful and feel those butterflies in the belly. Instead of seeing the perfect you as a far-off image, see yourself as perfect now.
Will you join me in dissolving the perfect picture, and see yourself as perfect today?
