(Excerpt from Pain, Passion & Purpose )

In our competitive world we’re constantly bombarded by messages to achieve top status – at record speed – while looking absolutely gorgeous. No pressure there! Without even realizing it, our minds become trained to measure ourselves up against impossibly high standards. It’s no wonder so many of us wakeup feeling defeated and then carry around an underlying layer of sadness. Although it seems that society would prefer for us to think otherwise, perfection is an illusion, and we can break free anytime we choose simply by changing our mindset. Here’s how:

Realize that Nobody’s Perfect – Yep, its true….not your parents, the President, movie stars or the Pope.  Nobody. Everybody makes mistakes, and in fact, mistakes serve the purpose of helping us learn our lessons much more quickly. Change your perception to view them as annoying little friends. Although their presence may not always be pleasant, they’re the necessary tools needed for fine-tuning your efforts to become a happier, more polished person.

Be Kind to Yourself – No one is all good or all bad. Make an honest assessment of your own unique areas of strength and weakness. When you do find a fault, don’t constantly berate yourself. The negative messages we send to ourselves can often have longer lasting effects than any the world could throw at us. Strive to keep your self-talk as positive as possible by always acknowledging something good about yourself for every shortcoming. 

Be Kind to Others – As we become more accepting of our own faults we naturally become more understanding of others. The false notion of perfection begins to fall away and our expectations become more realistic. Owning up to our own mistakes doesn’t allow for a “holier than thou attitude.” In many ways, becoming friends with imperfection makes the world a kinder and gentler place.

Take action to Improve – When you do screw up – just fix it. Simply accept that what’s done is done and make sure that the next decision brings you closer to your desired outcome. It’s a simple as that. With every new day we get another chance to try again. Don’t allow yourself to be held hostage by guilt or shame. Diffuse the power of those demeaning feelings by being brave admitting any fault and apologizing, if necessary.

Like what you just read?  Then please “like” us on Facebook!

Marci Wise is the author of Pain, Passion & Purpose. Copyright © 2013 marciwise.com. Material is copyrighted but free to repost as long as proper credit is listed, including our website address.