The Problem with Perfect
This week I have been thinking a lot on how much stress we put on ourselves to constantly be going, going, going. Midterms are coming up and the semester is pretty busy; speeding ahead at this rapid pace day in and day out can get downright exhausting. To keep our sanity in tact, we have to remember the importance of setting aside time to rest and be refreshed. The world screams at us to go and do and accomplish, but the Lord is whispering for us to simply be still and remember that He is God. Setting aside time for myself might seem selfish or unproductive, but I cannot serve well if I don't first tend the needs of my heart. Being a Mary, and sitting at the Lord's feet, frees me up to be a better Martha, as I pour myself out in service.
Self-care is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and cannot be forgotten or underestimated. It is National Eating Disorder Awareness week, so there have been a ton of events on campus to raise awareness and spread positive messages. As an exercise science major and group fitness instructor, I have tried to be extra intentional about sharing encouragement and changing the conversations we have about our bodies. Worth is not a number on a scale, a pant or clothing size, a ranking on a chart, or any other tangible thing. Beauty and true value are intricately knit and woven into the depth of our being, they come from God alone, making them everlasting and unfading.
Daily repeating these truths is so important because it is easy to forget when there are a million other things on your mind. When life gets loud, I find it so refreshing to seek out silence or some form of rest. This can look different for every person and even different depending on your own mood. It is key to find a way to recharge when you are feeling physically, emotionally, or even spiritually drained. We have got to stop being so hard on ourselves and be okay with being human and having wants and needs and desires (easier said than done, I know, right...).
I have thought before, in times of conflict or frustration, that it would be great if I could just live in a bubble. I could protect myself from all the things that make me uncomfortable and keep myself from having a negative impact on others. The problem with this is that I am not created to live in isolation - I am made for community. Life might be messy, but that is what makes it worth living. I am created for relationships and fellowship, for sharing my joys, trials, and all the in-betweens with the people in my life. Walls may "keep out the bad," but in turn they also shut us off from a lot of great opportunities, grace, and love.
Investing in my relationships, with both friends and family, is one of many ways I draw energy and find rest. To me, self-care is about taking time to do things that bring you joy; listening to your heart and celebrating what makes you unique. Sometimes I need to let go of my schedule and to-do list and let myself embrace the moment. This also means letting go of my imagined/assumed ideals of the "perfect life" or the "perfect diet" or the "perfect body" or the "perfect schedule." The problem with this type of "perfect" is that it doesn't exist, it has always been and always will be nothing more than an illusion. We all have to let go of this unending pursuit of perfection and embrace that life is not perfect, and it is never going to be perfect. But that is okay because the Lord is perfect and He covers up our weaknesses with His strength. I don't need to try to be "good enough" because God is already more than enough. I am not lacking anything because in Him I am made whole and complete, and so are You.
So in honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness week, let's let go of all our romanticized views of perfection and embrace our imperfections. Give yourself and the people around you a little grace because life can be hard, and you never know what another person might be walking through or the burdens they might be carrying. Be willing to not only extend help but also receive it from others. We have to open our eyes to see beauty as more than outward appearance. Let us embrace the uniqueness of the world around us without being afraid of things that are different or unfamiliar to us. We have to stop focusing on categorizing everything with dichotomous labels/value judgments. The beauty of life is not only in the highs and the lows but also all the in-betweens; let's not miss all the blessings of the moment because we are too busy fretting about the past, future, or things wholly out of our control.
Self-care is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and cannot be forgotten or underestimated. It is National Eating Disorder Awareness week, so there have been a ton of events on campus to raise awareness and spread positive messages. As an exercise science major and group fitness instructor, I have tried to be extra intentional about sharing encouragement and changing the conversations we have about our bodies. Worth is not a number on a scale, a pant or clothing size, a ranking on a chart, or any other tangible thing. Beauty and true value are intricately knit and woven into the depth of our being, they come from God alone, making them everlasting and unfading.
Daily repeating these truths is so important because it is easy to forget when there are a million other things on your mind. When life gets loud, I find it so refreshing to seek out silence or some form of rest. This can look different for every person and even different depending on your own mood. It is key to find a way to recharge when you are feeling physically, emotionally, or even spiritually drained. We have got to stop being so hard on ourselves and be okay with being human and having wants and needs and desires (easier said than done, I know, right...).
I have thought before, in times of conflict or frustration, that it would be great if I could just live in a bubble. I could protect myself from all the things that make me uncomfortable and keep myself from having a negative impact on others. The problem with this is that I am not created to live in isolation - I am made for community. Life might be messy, but that is what makes it worth living. I am created for relationships and fellowship, for sharing my joys, trials, and all the in-betweens with the people in my life. Walls may "keep out the bad," but in turn they also shut us off from a lot of great opportunities, grace, and love.
Investing in my relationships, with both friends and family, is one of many ways I draw energy and find rest. To me, self-care is about taking time to do things that bring you joy; listening to your heart and celebrating what makes you unique. Sometimes I need to let go of my schedule and to-do list and let myself embrace the moment. This also means letting go of my imagined/assumed ideals of the "perfect life" or the "perfect diet" or the "perfect body" or the "perfect schedule." The problem with this type of "perfect" is that it doesn't exist, it has always been and always will be nothing more than an illusion. We all have to let go of this unending pursuit of perfection and embrace that life is not perfect, and it is never going to be perfect. But that is okay because the Lord is perfect and He covers up our weaknesses with His strength. I don't need to try to be "good enough" because God is already more than enough. I am not lacking anything because in Him I am made whole and complete, and so are You.
So in honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness week, let's let go of all our romanticized views of perfection and embrace our imperfections. Give yourself and the people around you a little grace because life can be hard, and you never know what another person might be walking through or the burdens they might be carrying. Be willing to not only extend help but also receive it from others. We have to open our eyes to see beauty as more than outward appearance. Let us embrace the uniqueness of the world around us without being afraid of things that are different or unfamiliar to us. We have to stop focusing on categorizing everything with dichotomous labels/value judgments. The beauty of life is not only in the highs and the lows but also all the in-betweens; let's not miss all the blessings of the moment because we are too busy fretting about the past, future, or things wholly out of our control.
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