The Perfectly Imperfect Perfectionist

50 practical pieces of wisdom and encouragement

I woke up this morning thinking about perfectionism, how it has impacted my life and the lives of those around me, and how many I know struggle as they strive to be perfect.  I couldn't sleep. So, I wrote down these simple encouragements and words of wisdom that were dancing around in my mind:


  1. You are perfectly imperfect.
  2. Fail on purpose sometimes, just to prove to yourself that you can.
  3. Those who stand with ‘perfect faith,’ but never risk a step, don’t have perfect faith.
  4. Asking for help means that you trust someone, and are willing to allow them to bless you.  You cannot be successful at deep relationships until you can do this.
  5. If you move the ‘wrong’ way, can you mess up God’s plans?  Nope! You are not that powerful.
  6. I don’t want to be friends with a perfect person.  (I’m not perfect enough for that). Prove to me that you aren’t perfect.
  7. If you never fail, then you haven't been trying as hard as you could...
  8. Loosen up and just be you.
  9. No one ever regrets learning from failure.  People often regret not trying.
  10. Do your best, and then ask for help.  (People like being asked to save the day!)
  11. Leave the crooked painting crooked.  Consider it an art form; a perfect representation of human uniqueness!
  12. Stop practicing harsh judgement.  Choose to practice gentle understanding.  Start with you.
  13. Share an insecurity.  Allow someone to accept your brokenness.
  14. Stop being so hard on yourself.  I like that person you are criticizing.
  15. Every time you put yourself down, tell yourself three wonderful things about you (or seven if you are an overachiever!)
  16. Talk nicely to yourself.
  17. In order to be a successful human you must take risks and make mistakes.
  18. People respect those who humbly admit their failures.
  19. Humans relate to brokenness, and cringe at ‘perfect people’...because we know perfection is a facade.
  20. No one trusts a ‘perfect’ person.  They are inevitably hiding their imperfections.
  21. You don’t have to be perfect. 
  22. Failure is where growth’s opportunity is deepest. 
  23. All humans struggle.  All humans are imperfect.  All humans fail. It’s okay that you are human.
  24. Are you brave enough to wear your shirt inside out today? If not, it’s time to work on growing that perfect humility.
  25. Sometimes we mess up.  And that makes us human. You fit in beautifully, are wanted, valued and belong: imperfections and all.
  26. Imperfect moments are just as important as your perfect moments.  Without them, you can’t be human.
  27. Perfect people are impossible to relate to.
  28. I assume you aren’t actually perfect...but I’ve never seen you struggle…
  29. Your weaknesses are part of what makes you uniquely you.  They are part of your beauty.
  30. When you hide your failures, you destroy yourself from the inside.  When you share your failures, you are seen as human...which you are.
  31. Care to share an imperfection and join the ranks of imperfect people?
  32. Others aren’t surprised by your imperfections because they know everyone has them.
  33. Share your weaknesses with others.  You show strength by doing so!
  34. Tell your friends when you fail, so that they know you’re human.
  35. Failures are beautiful opportunities to blossom.  What can be learned?! Who can you bless by asking for help?!
  36. Let others know your failures so that they can speak on your behalf... let their truths speak louder than your inner critic.
  37. You are a marvelous human who learns through failures!
  38. The only horrible failure is the failure to not try.
  39. Be brave enough to be okay failing.
  40. You aren’t perfect.  We know it too. You don’t have to hide any longer.
  41. A good person shares their failures so that all may learn.
  42. Be imperfect like normal people are. It makes you more perfectly human.
  43. Imperfections and failures warm coldness, and soften approachability.  Sharing them, opens hearts and welcomes others in. Embracing them encourages growth in both humility and understanding.
  44. You cannot understand unless you have also failed.
  45. Only God is perfect.  You aren’t God, and that’s okay.  
  46. You cannot love perfectly until you love one’s imperfections.  You cannot be loved until you acknowledge your own.
  47. I don’t care that you failed.  I do that too. I still love you.
  48. Trust that you are enough.
  49. I seem to have failed to think of 50...I suppose 49 will just have to do ;) 


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