Everybody Has Issues

We all know someone who seems absolutely perfect; she rises at 4 to do some reflective reading, goes to the gym, comes back in time to drive the children to school and of course, they are carrying a perfectly healthy, made from scratch lunch. She then prepares for work and leaves the house looking like a runway model. It is exhausting just contemplating what it must be like to always try to be that perfect. The truth though if you pay attention is everyone has chinks in their armor; it’s just a matter of time until the imperfections shine through. Let me give you a few examples; I knew two young women who were show-stopping beautiful. They looked absolutely perfect to me and I remember wondering what it would be like to be that gorgeous. One day I casually asked them why they were always late. The answer that they gave me was not what I expected. They both told me that they were terrified that they would not look good. They would try on multiple pieces of clothing and redo their hair and makeup over and over until they looked just right. I decided at that moment that beauty was not worth that level of anxiety. I know another woman who I consider to be beautiful inside and out but I finally realized that she is trying to model herself after a friend that she considers to be perfect. She will never be content or able to see her own beauty.

Our media gives us images of perfection that are often hard to achieve. I would suggest that it is healthier for us to each be the best that we can be without feeling that we need to compare ourselves to others or do something that is not comfortable for us because we perceive it as what everyone else is doing. Imperfection is so much more interesting and approachable than perfection.

Don’t jump to conclusions when you first meet someone because usually, the more perfect a life seems, the more issues are hiding below the surface. Be content with being the best you can be while maintaining your sanity.

Perfect people can act as inspiration though. There are times when I become stuck in a comfortable routine when I could be doing better in one area or another. Sometimes something that a perfect person says or does will push you to improve on something. Improvement can lead to greatness, perfection can lead to therapy.

What we see in someone’s character or physique is not necessarily what that individual sees.

We only have to watch the bad auditions on American Idol when the singers argue that they did a great job when it is so obvious that they did not. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard someone make a statement about themselves and it is so outside reality I have to ask myself if we are speaking about the same person. Perfection is perception and everyone’s perception is going to be slightly different, so if you are doing your best in your own life then that should be perfect for you.

Embrace those chinks in your armor knowing that everyone has some. Use your level of happiness to gauge your perfection level and help the perfect people around you; they need a friend.