Day 12...Stop trying to be perfect!

I wanted to post this article on perfectionism that was written about Brene Brown's book "Gifts of Imperfection". I came across Brene's blog called Ordinary Courage a few months ago and immediately became enthralled. I had never thought of perfection in this way - a way of disgusing ourselves - tucking away those flaws behind the picture of perfection that you portray to the outside world.

We get sucked into perfection for one very simple reason: We believe perfection will protect us. Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect, and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame.

Letting go of our prerequisites for worthiness means making the long walk from "What will people think?" to "I am enough." But, like all great journeys, this walk starts with one step, and the first step is practicing courage.

The root of the word courage is cor -- the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant to speak one's mind by telling all one's heart.

I just love this definition of courage...SPEAK ONE'S MIND BY TELLING ALL IN ONE'S HEART...love, love, love it. With art, you feel like you are bearing your heart to anyone with whom you share what you create - practice courage - speak your heart!

Link to the article:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/11/01/give.up.perfection/index.html?hpt=C2

Link to Brene's blog: http://www.ordinarycourage.com