I was working on this new art project last night and, just as I was finishing up, I smudged the paint on this girl’s face. Ugghhh!!!!! Do I throw her away and start all over because she’s not perfect OR do I leave her as is and just enjoy her, smudges and all? Not an easy decision…

I’ve spent a lot of time and energy trying to get things just right. This has shown up in so many areas of my life and, for a long time, I took great pride in my ability to be precise, most notably at work and in school. As a single mother of one son, I was far from precise so many times and that was hard for me in other ways. 

Precision requires a lot of energy and laser focus. Clearly, some situations require precision. For example, I want my doctor to be precise. I want the mechanic fixing my car to be precise and the accountant who does my taxes to be precise. If I ever need surgery, I’d also want my surgeon to be precise.
Does every situation require precision though? No. No. No. We can do something greatly even if it’s not precise, ie perfect (as things never are). 

So, how well do we decipher between situations that do and don’t require precision? I didn’t for a long time. AND…that comes with a cost.

The angst that comes with trying to be precise, ie perfect, is very high. AND…it commingles with ego and self-worth. AND…it’s utterly exhausting. AND…it’s not achievable. 

Nothing is perfect, whatever perfect actually means. We’re not perfect and, however cliché this sounds, that’s what makes us beautiful. I have to remind myself of this when the self-criticism starts. 

So, my paper doll is staying just as she is. She’s not going into the trash. She’s staying amongst all the other beautifully imperfect things that make up my world. 

Where could you enjoy some lack of precision?