Accepting Imperfection

I once read a quote.. I think it was by Joyce Meyer, that imperfection was impatient with imperfection. It is an irony really. We are aware that no one is perfect, but that does not stop us from becoming incredibly angry, hurt or offended when someone has the audacity to show all their imperfection in our direction. Really.. how dare they! But the truth is, if we learn to be more patient with our own imperfections, it becomes the key to dealing with the imperfections of others.

If you've ever seen someone (yourself included!) rail someone out about their mistake, no matter how trivial, you are seeing someone expressing there inward displeasure with themselves in the way they are treating someone else. It's a sickness really... sometimes we are not cognizant of just how displeased we are with who we are personally. It takes self examination and self awareness to honestly deal with just how unhappy we are with our situations. A fair measurement though is to watch how we treat others. Are we quick to snap on someone who has done something we've deemed improper? Are we very judgmental? Do we not leave room for missteps? It is very possible we have this same judgment of ourselves. It is a real block to achieving peace and creating healthy self esteem.

There is a verse in the bible that says "Judge not, lest ye be judged". And I always believed that meant that other people were going to judge us the same way we judge others. But as I grow, I see yet another meaning. I think the same judgment we measure out to others is a direct reflection of how we judge ourselves. So I looked at that, and began to allow myself some leeway... room to be imperfect, to make mistakes. Instead of harping on my mistakes and holding them against me indefinitely, I am learning to forgive myself. It is as intense a project as learning to forgive others, in fact I think it is harder. The by product though I've noticed is a much more relaxed view of others. I am much more willing to be gracious to others in their imperfection because I first applied that grace to myself. So as we work to become better versions of ourselves, it is important that we give ourselves room to be imperfect.

Fear: Dreamkillers on Speed!

I commit to loving the person I am right now. The first lines of my commitments page. Although many people write their new year’s resolutions in January, April seems to be a time of refocusing and recommitting for me. The first few days of this fourth month has been eventful. Confrontation seems to be the word of the month, and me being a confrontation phobic (is that a word, probably not) has felt the heat, and been very tempted to get my ass right out the kitchen. But fear is the very monster that swallows dreams. My fears, I can go on forever cause I got a stack full. And for all the bravado and confidence I may appear to have on the outside, I am quite the chicken. What I know for sure is one, confrontation must come in order to facilitate change and two fear is the killer of dreams. I am two for two, fortunately I don’t have an issue with self pity, if I did then all would be lost, but then you are reading this, so there is still hope.

One thing I have learned in my twenty-seven years of walking on earth is that if I have an issue, nine times out of ten, there are a good number of people that have the same issue. So today, I want you to think on your dreams, aspirations, visions etc.. and decide, is fear killing my dreams?

I love to write, I love to perform, I love to speak and I love, love, love, love, LOVE to sing! What keeps me from going after those things full force is fear. Fear of rejection, fear of failure and brace yourself, fear of success have all been issues that have plagued me along my journey. Right now, as I write this, I am convinced within my heart of hearts that I am on the verge of seeing a great many of my dreams come true, and you want to know the truth, I am afraid! Insecurity snuck in and told me that maybe I am not as talented as I believed myself to be and all the world is going to find out. But I’ve been drinking milk! My confidence bone is getting stronger, and it is beginning to drown out the fear voice, but it took some times to recognize just how fear was manifesting in my life.

I believe that procrastination is a manifestation of fear. Think about it, why is it that you haven’t recorded that last song, performed that poem that you feel will really touch someone, or pushed your recording like you should. You say, I don’t have the money, but my, those new shoes surely look good on you. You say, it’s not the right time, but the next time someone steps to you wrong on your nine to five, you are surely going to go off. Most of us are hiding gifts and talents inside of us, with the promise to ourselves that we’ll get to it, it will always be there, it’s not the right time, etc… Does this sound familiar? If so then ask yourself, what is it that has me in fear?

Perfectionism is another manifestation of fear. Nobody’s going to hear it, read it or see it till it’s perfect. PLEASE! It’ll collect dust and rot before you let it out there. What I’ve found as I have worked towards bettering my craft and skills is that, to be an artist, is to be naked. Just like Adam and Eve on day eight. We are laying our heart and souls on wax or canvas, and allowing all to oppose, ridicule, love or leave. It’s a scary thought, and that can lead us to bury our talent in a backyard along with the dream we just allowed to die.

As I wrote my commitments this April, I also committed to being proactive and actively pursuing my goals and visions. This for me means (big gulp) diligence, discipline and determination. I’ve always found it easy to motivate others to achieve, but now it is time to motivate myself. I could cop out, be the editor, the manager or the developer, but I’d be playing it safe like I did in middle school. Hooking up my friend with the guy I really wanted to date. I am tired of the side lines, and I am ready to see my dreams come to life. Most of all, I refuse to let fear kill my dreams.

Written April, 2005

A Better You

Honestly, it should probably be called a better me... but since life lessons are universal, I'll be more than happy to share. You have all kinds of options to improve yourself... I just want to be one of many resources you use!