Perfect. Many of us strive and fight so hard for this word. It breaks us apart when we don't meet our own standards and it devours our sanity. But we hear the message that absolutely no one is perfect because that's what makes us human. I think that's the perfect excuse given to humans to make them feel better about themselves.
This isn't a post about how nobody is perfect and it's ok to make mistakes. This is a post that will hopefully motivate you to wanting to become a better version of yourself. Everyone has their own definition of perfect and now is the time to elucidate what your standards for yourself are.
The dictionary definition of perfect is having all the required or desired elements, qualities or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be. If you know the person who you want to be and you make a constant effort to pursue your perfections then you will be your own version of perfect. Being perfect isn't easy, and while I will agree not everyone is completely perfect, I strongly believe you can come pretty close. You just have to believe it so and make it happen.
"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." --Michael Jordan.
Before you begin anything, write a list of things in your life that you are grateful for whether you have acquired them or was blessed with them. Put yourself in this attitude of gratitude. Then, once you see on paper all the things you are blessed with, it will be easier to create the list of things you want to improve on. This is just to put things into perspective. We sometimes tend to forget what we already have because we are constantly looking at what we don't have or what we aren't good at. After you understand this and have your list of things to be happy for, ask yourself "Who do I want to be?" Write it out. But do me a favor--write it in the present tense. Consider all aspects of your life: love, career, health, and whatever else you want to improve on. For example: I want to be someone of consistent excellence. So I would write down "I am someone of consistent excellence." What does this mean? It means I no longer want to be lazy, I no longer want to slack on my homework and I no longer want to complain about things that I don't have; whether it be materialistically or not. Instead I want to make it my priority everyday to accomplish something that is on my list of goals. The objects of my ambitions update daily. I have of course three month, six month and one year general goals, but every morning before beginning my day, I write out a list of goals I'd like to accomplish within 24 hours. I want to constantly be challenged and I only compete against myself--it's difficult sometimes and most definitely self degrading when you compare your life and successes to others. The only person you should try to be better than is the person who you were yesterday.
Focus only on the things you have control over and have the ability to change. This isn't wishful thinking. It's much deeper. Focus on the things in your life you have control over (or should) and take control! "What is my idea of perfect?" Ask yourself how you can improve yourself and what it will take to get there. Do not compare yourself to others. This is a personal practice and the answers must come within yourself. So answer the question. What is your idea of perfect for yourself? Do you want to be more well read? Healthier? More proactive? Better put together? If you can envision the person you want to be inside your mind, it will become evident outside of it.
Yes, people make mistakes and it's all part of life because through mistakes we learn and grow. However, people often misinterpret the different meanings of making mistakes. There are failures when you truly tried your hardest and you didn't prevail. There are mistakes that are made because you weren't really giving your actions your full attention or you didn't fully understand the consequences because you didn't know any better. And there are intentional mistakes that are made where you know that what you are doing is wrong and you do it anyway. I believe that most mistakes that are made can be completely avoided. If you make a constant effort and are always fully aware of every action you take, you will make less mistakes that are unnecessary. After reading this, you may begin to think "Do I have to monitor my every move and thought?" Relating back to Lady H's previous post about existentialism, it really changed my way of thinking and viewing my life because you really put yourself in this state of gratefulness. You begin to truly take in every detail of your life and in that moment you become entirely conscious of your surroundings. So yes, you should monitor your every action but it shouldn't feel like a chore. We have become so used to putting ourselves on auto-pilot and life literally is just cruising past you and when you look back you don't really know where all the time went and you don't feel fulfilled. Through the act of existentialism you understand your choices, goals, and actions a lot clearer and your life seems a little easier because you have more control.
Some people haven't realized that they have full control of their own lives. Your goals, successes, everything. Everything that is in your life you have attracted to it. If you are not happy with where you are at then change it. This is a different definition of being perfect because it's how you interpret it and how you choose to act. Those who understand this control and use it to their advantage have more success and their lives seem just a little more perfect.
Photograph from Tumblr
Focus only on the things you have control over and have the ability to change. This isn't wishful thinking. It's much deeper. Focus on the things in your life you have control over (or should) and take control! "What is my idea of perfect?" Ask yourself how you can improve yourself and what it will take to get there. Do not compare yourself to others. This is a personal practice and the answers must come within yourself. So answer the question. What is your idea of perfect for yourself? Do you want to be more well read? Healthier? More proactive? Better put together? If you can envision the person you want to be inside your mind, it will become evident outside of it.
Yes, people make mistakes and it's all part of life because through mistakes we learn and grow. However, people often misinterpret the different meanings of making mistakes. There are failures when you truly tried your hardest and you didn't prevail. There are mistakes that are made because you weren't really giving your actions your full attention or you didn't fully understand the consequences because you didn't know any better. And there are intentional mistakes that are made where you know that what you are doing is wrong and you do it anyway. I believe that most mistakes that are made can be completely avoided. If you make a constant effort and are always fully aware of every action you take, you will make less mistakes that are unnecessary. After reading this, you may begin to think "Do I have to monitor my every move and thought?" Relating back to Lady H's previous post about existentialism, it really changed my way of thinking and viewing my life because you really put yourself in this state of gratefulness. You begin to truly take in every detail of your life and in that moment you become entirely conscious of your surroundings. So yes, you should monitor your every action but it shouldn't feel like a chore. We have become so used to putting ourselves on auto-pilot and life literally is just cruising past you and when you look back you don't really know where all the time went and you don't feel fulfilled. Through the act of existentialism you understand your choices, goals, and actions a lot clearer and your life seems a little easier because you have more control.
Some people haven't realized that they have full control of their own lives. Your goals, successes, everything. Everything that is in your life you have attracted to it. If you are not happy with where you are at then change it. This is a different definition of being perfect because it's how you interpret it and how you choose to act. Those who understand this control and use it to their advantage have more success and their lives seem just a little more perfect.
Photograph from Tumblr