There are traits about myself that I love and I base my self-identity toward the person I feel those traits make me, like being grateful. Then there are traits that I do not find as flattering and I work on improving, such as impatience. So how do we balance between self-improvement and knowing we are inherently enough? Where is the sweet spot between growth and acceptance?
For me, the term Imperfectly Perfect resonates as a reminder. I will never be "perfect" in the pedestal, iconic person that I may imagine. I used to strive for that I feel like less than that was not good enough. That kind of self-talk is very hurtful, and so I changed it.
There is a different scale for each of us based on our experiences, our beliefs and understanding of the world, and our own image of what are important traits. Therefore we have no one to compare against but ourselves. And that means that in each moment we are the exact version of ourselves that we "need" to be in order to teach us what we want. Each moment shows us our successes and perhaps areas we may wish to shift. Each moment is that imperfectly perfect sweet spot...if we allow it.
It's all in our mindset. Just like the person at work that "drives you crazy" or the sweetheart that "brightens the day." It is all perspective and what we choose to focus on.
I'm not saying that we should simply ignore traits that drive us crazy and become best friends with that person. But I am saying we can choose to accept that they are in their own stage of their imperfect perfection and that is the right place for them in that moment. Maybe they will grow and change, maybe they will not but we all have traits to appreciate.
I'm grateful for all the traits that I have strengthened that I am proud to exhibit. I'm grateful to accept that in other moments I may not act as "well" as I could. I'm grateful for the learning opportunity as well as the acceptance of being imperfectly perfect. I'm grateful to see we all have our "perfections" and "imperfections" and to not put people on a pedestal. I'm grateful to be human and to love the amazing humans in my life. I'm grateful to strive to reside in the sweet spot.
Have you found the sweet spot or do you lean toward self-improvement or acceptance? While there is always an ebb and flow to this, there is a balance. Most importantly, do you know you are enough?
May today's reminder of love be shared with ourselves as well as those around us. May we find balance in accepting who we are while allowing space to shift what we want to see changed. Have a beautiful day!