In speaking to a group of new friends, I had the opportunity to share my thoughts on “perfection”. It made me think of this post, one of the earliest posts I ever wrote for my blog, that really hit home with so many people when I shared it. Enjoy!
I am Perfect.
Perfectly imperfect, that is.
I use the word ?perfect ? a lot, and often times had people remind me that nothing is perfect. I totally disagree. I believe that everyone and every thing is perfect and beautiful in its imperfect state of being. Think about that for one second ? imagine that just maybe your imperfections actually make you perfect. Don?t you just love the freedom that thought gives you? Well, time to realize the reality of the thought and let go of our self-judgments and negative self-talk. It?s time to embrace our imperfections.
Now I?m not saying to throw caution to the wind and go indulge in a gallon of super chunky triple chocolate fudgy goo. I?m saying that it?s okay to mess up, and it?s okay to have faults. For those of you that don?t, I?m sorry. These faults, trials, imperfections and stumbles are our some of our greatest blessings ? they?re our ?springboards? to becoming the strongest person we can possibly be!
So why do we so often find ourselves “masking up” for the day before we go out in public? Why do we all feel the need to pretend to be something we are not? Why are we so scared of who we really are? Every time we put on that mask we feel beautiful and invincible. We put on a show of perfection for our friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances?everyone. We?re not true to them, but most importantly we are not true to ourselves. We are a fraud.
Ever feel that way? I sure have, and I still find myself there at times. I have to remind myself of a lesson I learned from my late father: true beauty comes from being honest and authentic.
You?re scared. I hear you. It?s not easy to peek out from behind that mask and share our difficulties and challenges with the world. But trust me, it?s worth it! The freedom that comes with being vulnerable, open, and real is unlike anything else. It?s the most liberating thing I?ve ever experienced, and without a doubt it has become one of the most powerful tools in my arsenal.
?Heidi, this is easy for you to say. You don?t have imperfections like I do.? FALSE! The camera is deceiving and shallow.
Behold, a Top 10 list of only some of my many imperfections:
- I have bunions.
- My nostrils flare to the size of a nickel when I laugh (those of you who know me know EXACTLY what I?m talking about!)
- My hair might be beautiful?but only because I clip in extensions (and that?s not the only enhanced part of me).
- I am a control freak (I?m working on it ? so darn hard though, and not sure I?m making much improvement).
- I have food issues too.
- One of my eyes is lazy when I smile and I am SO self-conscious about it.
- Chris is my soul mate and best friend, and so often we post pictures of us when things are fun and rosy, but we, like every other couple, have challenges and differences that we?re always working on.
- I am tempted 99.9% of the time to cheat during my workouts.
- No matter how hard I work on my abs, I will always have a belly button that could be mistaken for a nose.
- I don?t wake up looking camera-ready. ?Thank goodness for hair and makeup artists!
So many more, but there?s not enough room in this blog.
So, how do you find this place of peace with yourself as you are?
Rule 62 ? DON?T TAKE YOURSELF SO DAMN SERIOUSLY (thanks again, Dad).
Don?t be scared or embarrassed. You?re in a safe place and it?s time for a heart to heart conversation with the most important person in your life – YOU! Dig deep and allow yourself to see those imperfections. Try seeing the beauty in your flaws (yes, that bump on your nose makes you YOU!). Realize the lessons and strength that your imperfections have given you. And most importantly, don?t worry about what other people think. One of my favorite sayings is, ?Those who mind don?t matter and those who matter don?t mind.?
Now go be your perfectly imperfect self ?:-).
184 Responses
Needed to hear that today!! Thank you, Heidi!
Heidi, you’re sensational! It takes courage to admit your own faults in public, even more courage to do it since you are a public figure. Thanks Heidi for showing me the way, your post made ??me feel better after a day in which my eating disorder had been pushed me to think about suicide. Thank you for making me think.
Francesca thank you for being so brave to share this. Life has its ups and downs but is definitely worth living. Sending you much love.
Love this post Heidi! Chris has always helped to inspired me but kinda felt was missing a little something and now following you, it was the female input! You both are spectacular, imperfect and all 🙂
Cheers !
I know I am of infinite worth, that my Heavenly Father created me, yet I have struggled all my life to truly believe that! If we could only see ourselves through the eyes of our God, we would see each other as beautiful princesses!
I have battle with obesity all my life so I have never I have felt pretty! I have lost 200 pounds on my own and still not good enough! So what is good enough? And what is beautiful? It has been a life time trying to find those answers!
Thank you for sharing a little corner of your personal life!
At 16 years old you were my role model. At 19 years old you are still my role models. Ive always tried to help myself. It usually fails. But when I read or watch the changes you and Chris have helped with, I take a further step. I no longer drink soda pop and are eating less for meals and snacks. Control is most definitely my imperfection. Hoping someday I can receive help if I cant fix it on my own. Its difficult going to school and having a strict dress code. Know that you’ve gotta tuck in your shirt. The emmense feel of hopelessness and doubt that I feel waking up to do this each morning. In conclusion, I do agree that we most definitely all have imperfections and they do weigh us down a bit but we do ALWAYS have to learn from them. Im glad to have such wonder inspirations in the world. Its a blessing to see you change others. It gives me so much hope.
thanks for sharing your perfect imperfections. I have so many too and i try to make myself look perfect biut cant..1 of mine is that i had a chemical reaction to chemo and i was chemically burned from inside out and my skin looks darker on parts of my body especially my legs are all discolored..oh well..im not the only one not perfect..thanks again for sharing your story
Hello Heidi I too would love to know where you get your hair clip PLEEEEEEEEASE Since turning 40 my hair is soooooooo thin but I want a piece that looks real and natural and your clip looks AMAZING ???? Thanks for helping and being so REAL with us 🙂
Accepting yourself for who you are can be extremely hard when you feel like nobody accepts you and you just wander through life being honest and wanting to be accepted. It is only human nature to want and to feel accepted. It it’s really hard when society is attracted to glam and what is pretty before they try to see what is real in a person. I feel people don’t even give me a chance because of my weight and lack of makeup and hairstyles along with my love of being comfortable in jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers. Do I need to get dolled up first to get people to see me? I don’t wear makeup, I don’t wear heels, and my favorite and only hair styling tool is a hairbrush. I guess I’ll just remain unnoticed. Heidi and Chris…I love you guys. I enjoy the posts on fb.
Thanks for sharing.
I really needed to hear this! I always look at you and think to myself…now here is a woman who is perfect! I don’t know why but it makes us feel better knowing we aren’t alone in our “imperfections”. And I think that you and your huspand are Awesome!