The pursuit of perfection is encouraged by those who would most profit from it ... the salesman with a product to sell; the charlatan with an idea to market; the egotist with needs to be met.
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At every turn we're being pushed to be bigger or smaller, stronger or weaker, more powerful or more vulnerable.
Examples of perceived perfection are presented to us through the media. We're told how we should look, act and live ... and made feel anything less is failure.
The reality, though, is that perfection is unattainable.
Small wonder then that stress and anxiety sit atop the list of problems being suffered by people worldwide.
Those who continually strive for something they will never have, face a lifetime of disappointment.
The pursuit of perfection is destroying relationships and killing people.
There's nothing wrong with being ambitious; with having dreams.
There's no fault in working hard to improve our lives and the way we live them.
But the target should not be the unrealistic and the unattainable ... home is a long way from Hollywood.
The objective should always be being the best possible version of ourselves. We can always try a little harder and be a little better.
That starts with getting to know ourselves, accepting ourselves and loving ourselves.
That's at the core of building an imperfect life.
- Gary Bentley is a Rural Aid counsellor