From an early age, we are encouraged to be our best. Our parents, teachers, and friends all establish a baseline for our development and expectations.

The concept of being perfect is one that we set for ourselves.

We have tangible markers of “perfection”, like receiving a score of 100 on an exam, or creating a piece of pottery in art class that looks like it came from a factory. Or, we look to having the perfect relationship that may be based on ideas we cobbled together in our minds based on movies or books.

Possibly the worst concept of perfection is the one we set in how we view our physical appearance- we’re never attractive enough, we’re overweight or too skinny.

The simple fact is that we set these ideas and expectations of perfection for ourselves. If we created it, that means we can also change it.

Are we imperfect?

Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese philosophy concept that can be adapted into almost any culture around the world.

It is an appreciation of the impermanence of the world around us, including people, places and things. It’s an awareness of the tangible things in our life change and age over time.

Wabi-Sabi is the natural wood furniture that is full of dents and scratches from a lifetime of use. It’s surface smooth and worn, possibly repaired at some stage in its life.

It’s handmade pottery which has no perfect symmetry. It’s broken pottery that has been repaired and not simply thrown out (Kintsugi).

Wabi-Sabi is us. We are imperfect in every way. We age and change as do our relationships.

Finding the joy in imperfection

I encourage you to begin looking for imperfection in your daily life.

Seeing and appreciating the world without a measurement of success is an incredible freedom. It helps to free your mind from the persistent idea that all lines must be straight, all tests and reports must be flawless, and that money and what we have should be measured against others.

Look in the mirror and you’ll see a human that is far from perfect.

And that is beautiful.