Lessons learning: Perfectionism

I call this.... lessons learned.... and lessons still being learned.

Perfectionism.

First off, for those who know me, you know that I'm not speaking on this from the outside looking in.... I struggle with this, but I want to share what I am learning about it.

In LDS culture we feel a need to be perfect.  We need to be skinny, strong, beautiful, a good baker, pinteresty (it's a thing), crafty, involved, musical, successful, the list goes on and on....

 In the Gospel of Jesus Christ we know that we are to "be ye therefore perfect, even as my Father in Heaven is perfect".... there we have it.. Be perfect.

 But whose definition of perfect are we living by? God's?  or the world's?  And to top it off, the footnote for the word perfect in Matt 5:48  is "complete, finished, fully developed.".... beautiful.

The whole test of this life is choice.  What are we choosing?  Are we choosing to strive and struggle and make mistakes and use the Atonement and honestly do all we can to be more like Christ? Then our Heavenly Father is so pleased, regardless of the time table.

There was a talk in the ensign that really changed my life. Become Perfect in Christ  It says that sometimes we equate being perfect with never making a mistake... (umm.... guilty as charged....) But I now realize if I never made a mistake I would never need to change... I would never need to rely on Chirst. And then I would have no real deep and lasting relationship with Him.  It says in the talk "we can gratefully accept, as God's sons and daughters, that we are His greatest handiwork even though we are still a work in progress."  Perfection will never be reached until we are resurrected... we literally will never be fully perfect in this life.  But we can just add more light and goodness and compassion as we go.

I need to let go. Let go of holding myself to unreal expectations.... Frustration comes from unmet expectations.  I want to shoot high and strive for the best obviously, but just embrace my flaws with gratitude that I'm alive.  What makes me imperfect makes me beautiful.  Let go of not fully living and loving for fear of making a mistake. Let go and let God. When I do that I will (in time... a long time...) become perfect.

From me to you, Kinzie Lou