I set out to make a warm and welcoming first post of 2025. I had everything ready; script, background, outfit, lighting, camera, and action!
When I hit record, I’m not sure what came over me, I was not able to keep a straight face. It was one imperfect take after another and another. At first, I cringed. This wasn’t the polished content I’d planned. But then I started laughing. And kept laughing. It started becoming rather hilarious. And so, I kept the camera rolling.
And that’s when it hit me: this reel was perfect as it was—a hilarious, real-life lesson in imperfection.
The Problem with Holding On Too Tight
You see, most of us—especially us moms—plan everything. We plan, over-plan, and then plan some more. We have color-coded calendars, backup snacks, and contingency plans for the contingency plans.
But here’s the catch: when we plan that much, we often grip too tightly to this idea of “perfect.” We cling to our scripts and expectations as if our happiness depends on getting everything just right. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. Life rarely works the way we want it to.
In Buddhism, there’s a teaching about this. They refer to “holding on too tightly” as a concept of attachment or clinging. We, as a species, not just women btw, cling too tightly to people, things or experiences. This attachment or clinging is seen as the root cause of most suffering.
Why?
Because clinging to things creates desires and then anxieties when we fear losing them, or anxieties when we fear that we’re never going to get them...FOMO anyone?? This then, prevents inner peace.
Consider for a moment where you hold on too tightly in your life. Think about how you stress about making that thing or experience “perfect,” and how you feel when it’s not.
Now let’s take beauty as an example. Consider how you feel when you look at your face and it doesn’t look “perfect.” What are your thoughts? How do you speak to yourself? Is there inner peace?
Probably not. That would explain the rise in cosmetic procedures and a lot of wrinkle-free, emotionless faces walking around.
Laughing Through the Mess
The magic of letting go is that it allows us to be fully present. When I stopped fighting the messiness of my video attempts, I found joy in them. Every slip-up, goofy face, and forgotten line became a reminder that life isn’t meant to be polished—it’s meant to be lived.
And honestly? The laughter that blooper reel brought me (and hopefully you) was so much better than any flawless video ever could have been.
So, here’s my PHx invitation to you: loosen your grip a little. Whatever it is you’re trying to perfect—whether it’s a New Year’s resolution, a work project, or just dinner tonight—let it be imperfect. Let it be messy. Let it be you.
Because sometimes, the best lessons—and the biggest laughs—come from our so-called “mistakes.”
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a blooper reel to post. Consider it my first lesson in embracing imperfection this year.
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