Life Doesn't Have to Be Perfect to Be Wonderful
People tend to demand too much from life and even from themselves. We set standards, goals and various dreams to achieve. And of course, this is all not only good, but necessary. We all need short and long term projects to achieve so we can feel proud about ourselves, and acquire skills and personal abilities.
Now, sometimes, when we set high expectations we run the risk of not enjoying everyday triumphs. The most humble ones achievements that only are the most important: such as love, friendship and tranquility.
Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. We know that it’s easy to say but… Do you truly know this? Or are you still encased in your effort to reach that coveted perfection? Don’t worry, here we invite you to reflect on it.
Seekers of everyday perfection
Being demanding and driven helps us develop many skills, but at the same time, if we demand too many things from ourselves we rarely feel satisfied.
In reality, perfection is nothing more than a chimera, an intangible aspiration. There’s no such thing as a perfect life with no ups and downs. Our existence is a carousel of intense emotions where there’s only objective: learn something new about our life every day.
Sometimes, we listen the people around us whine about “only bad things happen to me”, “everything goes well for other people, and I always go down the wrong path”… These type of utterances and thoughts have always existed and will always exist. Now, before we succumb to these behaviors we should keep the following in mind:
- Happiness is not found within perfection. No one’s absolute happiness is guaranteed just because they’re rich, attractive, or have good health.
- Life is measured in moments and, above all, in our ability to be open to reality, opportunity, the magic of the simplest details that surround us, and optimism.
I’ve been rejected for that job I always dreamed of. Should I play the martyr thinking that I’m worthless, that life insists on turning its back on me? Not at all, I’m aware that when one door closes another 6 open up, and I’ll fight for all of them.
He who aspires to a perfect life climbs to the top to try to reach the universe, while every day he misses out on the wonders happening at his feet.
There’s another aspect we should keep in mind: he who demands everything from himself, fighting to have a perfect life, drags others with him to achieve his goal. Someone who aspires to have a perfect life tends to place such a high bar for the people around them, that what he really succeeds in producing is a great unhappiness.
Life is wonderful to those who go with the flow, to those who know how to appreciate
And you…do you know how to appreciate all of the wonders that surround you daily? Sometimes, it’s hard for us due to hurrying, worries, due to that inner rumbling that keeps us from seeing the magic of life.
Not everyone is capable of discovering or appreciating the most authentic essence of our day to day:
- The light that shines on everyone the same every morning.
- The buzz of a family, your family, getting up to have some breakfast with you in harmony and tranquility.
- A knowing hand caressing you
- The mischievous smile of your children
- A subway running late that lets you read a few more pages of your book
- That health that lets you come and go, run, sleep, swim, love…
- That nap on the weekend on the couch with your pet
- The smell of wet earth after a storm
- The languid sunset on a calm beach
Life is made up of everyday moments of subtle serenity. It’s a language that keeps its own rhythm and that not everyone knows how to appreciate. Because some people go against the tide, are too hurried, with their heart out of tune and a rowdy mind.
Life is wonderful without needing to be perfect, because perfection lacks error and mistakes, and therefore, there’s no learning.
