When I suggested it to the family members reading other sections of the newspaper around the breakfast table, they laughed.
Because they already knew.
How embarrassing.
How distressing.
How enlightening.
I might argue in my defense, and in defense of all others out there who I happen to know are also perfectionists because they're mothers, that good can come of perfection.
A perfect dinner that everybody loves, a perfect outing where all the items on your list are actually found and some are even on sale, a perfect moment when everybody's happy and everything's going as planned, a perfect feeling from accomplishment or beauty or peace.
Perfection becomes a problem, according to the article, when things are not perfect and personal failure brings self-criticism. Or when those around you are not perfect and your disappointment affects your relationships.
This makes sense.
So from now on I won't kick myself when I mess up.
And from now on I won't kick against life when things or people around me mess up.
Because perfectionists have stress that causes immune problems according to the article.
I will be perfect in not expecting perfection in me or anyone else.
And if I mess up...
...there I go again.
Perfect recent moments:
And a perfect quote from Sam Keen that solves all our problems: "We come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."
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