On my website I prominently feature a saying by renowned psychotherapist Carl Rogers: "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself, just as I am, then I can change." Acceptance is a thread that runs through much of my work with clients. This week, as we continue to move forward with the new year, I want to share an essay about accepting the imperfections in ourselves and our lives.
This piece (linked below) is so full of wisdom that I struggled to pick a favorite quote to share with you. I was inclined to copy and paste the whole thing! But here is one I really like:
Mindfulness, however, also does not mean I’m perfect just the way I am. It’s not that life’s 'All good,' as the common maxim indicates. Those kinds of clichés don’t mean much—we all could use some improvement, and sometimes life isn’t particularly good. Instead, when we recognize that we’re lost once again in feeling we 'should' be perfect at being mindful, we practice letting that thought go, and get back to doing our best without the extra layers of exhausting self-judgment.
Self-judgment is exhausting, and it gets in the way of our happiness and our growth. Enjoy your day and enjoy this reflection on what it means to "live with and love your imperfect life."
