Imperfect is the New Perfect:
On Perfection, Flaws and Acceptance

Have you ever seen puddles of water right in the middle of the road while driving on a hot summer day, only to reach closer and find nothing?

It’s a natural phenomenon called Highway Mirage.

A mirage is a naturally occurring optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, like the refraction of light from the sky by heated air resulting in Highway Mirage.

Perfection is like a mirage. You think it is real, you think it exists, you think you can achieve it. But when you chase perfection and reach closer, you find nothing. Your hands remain empty because you were chasing something that was never there, you were chasing an illusion.

All perfection that we see around us is fake, photoshopped and manipulated with filters. But imperfection is real, it's raw and authentic.

The moment you stop chasing perfection and learn to accept and embrace your flaws is the moment  you become truly liberated and feel more human and more alive because our flaws and imperfections are what make us human.

From the age of 15, I have had acne which has left scars on my face. Many people spend huge amounts of money on laser therapy, skin grafting, and other surgical and non-surgical treatments to get rid of their acne scars and make their skin flawless and perfect. I would have done the same if I saw my scars as a problem that needs to be solved. But I don't, because my scars don’t bother me at all and I don’t even use make up to hide them. They are a part of me and I accept them like I accept the rest of my body, as imperfect as it is.

Yes my scars may bother other people, but how is that my problem? Sometimes the same people throw heaps of unsolicited advice, suggestions and remedies at me. Needless to say, I ignore them because their advice is as important to me as Donald Trump.

I also have stretch marks on my belly from being pregnant. But again, I accept my stretch marks as a flaw in my appearance, an imperfection, and I also accept that I don't need to get rid of them. My stretch marks remind me of an incredible miracle that my body performed and an adorable little wonder that I brought into this world.

There's nothing inherently wrong with wanting to get rid of imperfections in your appearance. But, as Robin Sharma said:

"What you focus on grows, what you think about expands, and what you dwell upon determines your destiny.”

If you choose to focus on your flaws and imperfections, you'll continue to find flaws in yourself, in others, in your life, in everything you do. Because by focusing your attention on flaws and directing your energies at correcting those flaws, you are actually training your mind to look for flaws everywhere and overlook everything else that's not a flaw.

In other words, by focusing on everything that's wrong with you, you're choosing to ignore everything that's right with you.

Perfection is an unattainable standard because it's not realistic. Pushing yourself to try and reach it knowing that it's unattainable is like stopping your car in the middle of the road every time you see that puddle of water.

It's a waste of time and you will never reach your destination if you did that.

The truth is, we are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world. So own your flaws. Accept them. Embrace them.

Trust me, there's nothing wrong with wanting to wear your imperfections as a badge of honor.