Free From Perfectionism

(This is day 3 of a 31 day blog series titled Live Free.  )

Stop for a moment and look again at the photo here. Do you notice anything wrong?

I do. . . I see the petals of the biggest flower are either bent or shorter on one side, I can’t tell for sure. I also see uneven petal spacing on all of the flowers.

In your opinion, is this a printable photo or not? Should I keep looking for that picture perfect bloom? In the magazine world, I’m guessing this pic would be edited to look just right.

But is that what the world really wants or needs? Perfect picture?

Don’t you hate it when you see a magazine cover and you know the “real” has been edited out? No visible pores or acne. All wrinkles or freckles air brushed to perfection. Face slimmed, neck made longer. These kind of edits are fake and misleading. And they drive me bonkers.

The media says, “Remove every flaw. Show only perfection.”

But I say, ” I want real. I need real. Don’t play tricks on me. I’m not stupid. Show me what people really look like. Show me imperfect beauty.”

I hate that our culture teaches perfect is hot and imperfection is not. No wonder I struggle with what I look like as I grow older. No wonder teenagers already hate their young bodies. No wonder I want to show you only the pretty parts of my house, but not my messy desk or my laundry pile.

As I continue this 31 day blog series on living free, I’m reminded of how God invites me to live free from perfectionism. God doesn’t ask me to be perfect because He knows I’m not. To live free, I have to accept my imperfections as God’s design to keep me humble.

What if I stopped focusing on what I missed and started focusing on thanking God for who I am and for what I do have?  What if I saw my paper pile and said, “This mess does not define me, God does.” What if I accepted the imperfect skin I’m in? What might change? Because I’m not living free when I focus on my flaws, or when I condemn myself for missing that perfect mark day after day. And truth be told, there will always be another spill to clean up and more wrinkles to laugh at.

My life will never be picture perfect.

Accepting my imperfections is a key to live free.

A crooked smile is better than no smile, right? Laugh lines are proof of repeated joy, aren’t they? And uneven flower petals are proof that God finds pleasure in imperfect beauty.

So why can’t I?

Because the truth is my imperfection is what God calls created just right.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful

Psalm 139:14

Q4U: What one thing do you need to give yourself permission to be imperfect at? How can you embrace the imperfect you a little more today? Please share in the comments on my blog OR hop over to my Facebook page and comment.

(To find out more about the over 1,400 bloggers writing this month of October. Visit The Nester. I guarantee someone is writing on a topic that interests you! The variety is amazing!! And if you’re on Twitter, look for us by the hashtag #31days.)