Picture this: You have grand plans, a vision of perfection, but life throws a curveball your way. How do you respond when your well-laid plans crumble, and you’re left with imperfection staring you in the face? Welcome to a journey of authenticity, where we’ll explore the power of showing up imperfectly.
The Perfect Plan in Utah
Hello there, fellow seekers of authenticity! I’m Erin, your guide on today’s adventure. Last week, I found myself in the picturesque landscapes of Utah, ready to create podcast magic with my co-host, Katie. We had it all planned out, envisioning hours of creative brainstorming and recording episodes. But life had other ideas.
The cabin I stayed in offered tranquility but little to no cell service and shaky Wi-Fi. It soon became clear that recording a podcast with Katie was nearly impossible. Plan B was in order, so I reached out to two incredible friends for interviews: Ellie, a motivational coach and healer, and Amy, a brilliant LCSW therapist. We recorded episodes filled with wisdom and insight.
But as I returned home and began editing, I discovered a problem. The soothing sounds of a nearby stream, combined with our makeshift recording setup, rendered our episodes almost inaudible. Panic set in.
Embracing Imperfection in the Chaos
With no episodes ready and our schedules not aligning, I faced a dilemma: How could I show up consistently for our audience, maintain quality, and preserve my sanity without controlling everything?
This predicament led me to explore the concepts of perfectionism as control and curation as protection. Perfectionism, deeply rooted in my personality from childhood, was my way of ensuring safety and success for everyone around me. But it often led to disconnection when imperfection arose.
A Lesson from Equine Therapy
My mind wandered back to a pivotal moment in 2015, during an equine therapy session. There, I learned a valuable lesson about choosing connection over perfection. I was so focused on getting the horse to navigate cones flawlessly that I lost the essence of the exercise—connection. The horse sensed my fear and distanced itself, illustrating that perfectionism can sabotage genuine connections.
Discovering Brené Brown’s Wisdom
A participant at the workshop shared a book with me, “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown. In it, I found wisdom that resonated deeply with my quest for authenticity. Brown’s words on authenticity, courage, vulnerability, and wholehearted living struck a chord. Embracing imperfection and vulnerability is how we invite grace, joy, and gratitude into our lives.
A Final Message on Embracing Imperfection
As we conclude this journey through the terrain of imperfection and authenticity, I hope this story resonates with you. If you find yourself leaning towards control, curation, and perfection, remember the lesson from the equine therapy session: sometimes, choosing connection over perfection is the true goal.
Thank you for joining me on this solo adventure into authenticity. Whether or not I continue down this path remains uncertain, but one thing’s for sure: we’ll be back next week with Katie, and the podcast will go on, showcasing the beauty of authentic connection.
So, dear listener, embrace the imperfect, and may your week be filled with grace, joy, and gratitude.
