Embracing Imperfection Will Set You Free Too
Leaning into authenticity has liberated me.
In a world obsessed with perfection, where social media feeds are filled with carefully curated images of flawless lives, the pursuit of perfection can almost feel imperative, especially for moms. However, what if I told you that true liberation lies not in perfection, but in embracing ALL of your imperfect self?
Welcome to the journey where imperfection becomes your pathway to freedom.
From glossy magazine covers to Instagram influencers, society bombards us with idealized images everywhere, creating an unrealistic standard that still so many strive to achieve. Moms are particularly vulnerable to this kind of perfectionism, since we are constantly juggling intense fears of personal and parenting failure, social rejections, and other criticisms. Overcompensating with efforts to be better is how we’ve learned to cope, but striving for perfection is not only exhausting, it’s also unattainable — because no one is truly flawless, and “perfect” isn’t even a real thing.
That’s why I’ve shifted my perspective and learned to embrace all my quirks.
Rather than viewing things like my corny jokes, my flighty attention span, my terrible dance rhythm, and my one ear that pokes out a little more than the other as shameful flaws to be hidden, I’ve turned the lens around to begin seeing these aspects of myself as what makes me uniquely who I am instead. And even though it may not make me interesting to everyone, it’s what helps me connect more authentically with any one who can relate. Embracing imperfection means accepting ourselves fully, rough edges and all. And living authentically — not only from a place of compassion for our differences, but in celebration of our individuality — is the most freeing feeling I think we could ever know.
When we let go of the need to be perfect and show up as our most authentic self, we are liberated from the pressure to conform to something unrealistic or waste any more energy pretending to be what we’re not. And knowing that the struggle in our differences or mistakes is how we learn, we can actually become even stronger and more unique by following our own path that way too.
Today I lean into ALL my humanness a woman and mom, and it has unlocked the door to the most fulfilling connections and joy in my life. If you too are looking for more inspiration on how to live more freely andlean into more of your own authenticity and imperfection, I know just the book!
