“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor.” (Anne Lamott)

If we stopped to examine our definition of “perfect” we would see that it is often so unrealistic that it could never exist in one person. We want to be beautiful and intelligent. We want to be an amazing cook and a professional athlete. We want to be desired in every arena from the boardroom to the bedroom. What we really want, it turns out, is to edit together all the best bits of all the people we admire, roll them into one person, and then be that person.

Impossible.

Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for growth. Improvement is realistic. Giving yourself permission to be imperfect allows you to discover self-worth in the midst of your imperfections. It also makes you much easier to be around — which helps establish relationships with people who affirm and value you for who you are right now. All of which makes improvement much more likely to occur.