Monday, March 8, 2010

Women and Perfection

The modern day woman is a fascinating creature. She has many more options and paths to choose from than her mother or grandmother did. The idea that women can have it all has been ingrained in the modern woman's psyche. Women are not only running their own race but they have become extremely critical of their stride. The tendency towards reaching for and portraying perfection rears its ugly and disappointing head among many women today. When a woman falls short of her expectations for herself that is when the judges and critics of her mind come to put her down but wait! It needn't be that way.

Perfection Is a Myth

Perfection is a myth and that is why it is so exhausting to try to attain. Perfection assumes no flaws and is an unnatural state. If you look at nature you can see that it blooms and declines. What may be considered nature's flaw is just its rest, its preparation toward bloom. This preparation is just as valuable as the blossoming itself. So it is with women. You can have a great job, a healthy family, supportive friends, a fit body, a lovely and seemingly put together demeanor; but it takes a lot to keep that world spinning on the tip of your finger. You miss a deadline. A friendship falls apart. Your child gets the chicken pox. You find a pock on your face. Make-up won't cover it. You skip a work out. You take a nap. It may be good to remember that you are a part of a world in which there exists dualities. Light and dark. Night and day. It is impossible to have your life in order all of the time. Impossible and unnecessary.

You Are Not Alone In Your Boat

In fact, you are in pretty good company. If more women opened up and talked about the messiness of life there would not only be true camaraderie but a lot of laughter. Don't be afraid to be honest about what you struggle with. Do yourself and the women around you a favor and admit that you might not always have it all together. Take off the mask. You will forge deeper connections. Life is not a race but more like a long walk. Knowing that you are not alone, in what can sometimes be an overwhelming life for a modern day woman, will serve you well. And in your open conversations with other women you most likely will get some good ideas and tips for how to keep things running smoothly.

Embrace It. All Of It!

Being a human being is intricate and complex. Embrace the experience. Embrace every aspect of your unique and lovely self. You are gathering and you are forming. Living with joy and with sorrow. Sifting through what you want for yourself and what you don't want. Loving and befriending yourself despite your detours is not only a gift you can give to yourself but it is a gift to the people around you. Besides, your rough edges are endearing!

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