Perfect imperfection
This phrase has become one of my mantras in recent years. It may seem like an oxymoron – technically it is – but literal meaning aside, the phrase perfect imperfection has forever changed my world perspective for the better. And since it is mid-January and many of us are struggling with our new year’s intentions, I thought perhaps it might help you too.
I have a confession: throughout most of my life, I considered myself a perfectionist. “Done is better than perfect” did not exist in my vernacular. Perfect was perfect, and anything I did – art, writing music, work projects, even cleaning the house – had to be done to my impeccable standards.
But in a lot of those situations, “perfect” was unattainable, or at best unnecessary, especially when other uncontrollable factors were involved. Perfect does not leave room for others or mistakes – two factors I believe are important for personal growth. It was zapping my energy as I desperately tried to force my idea of perfection into imperfect molds.
Seeing my distress, a good friend introduced me to the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. Simply put, Wabi-Sabi is the ability to find beauty in the “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.” This concept gave me a new way to look at my home, my art, my work, and even the world around me. It prompted a greater acceptance of the things I could not control, and even gave me a greater appreciation for life’s imperfections. The legend gives the example of cherry tree flowers spilled randomly into an immaculately groomed garden. I love that example. How many of us have spent hours raking the yard clean, only to have a wind gust replace a few of the leaves on the ground? When that happens now I smile.
Changing old habits is a process, so perfect imperfection is a way to remind myself of this when I find myself slipping back into old patterns.
How can you incorporate perfect imperfection into your own life? As utne notes, it “doesn’t require money, training, or special skills.”
However, it does take practice. Here are three small changes you can make to begin to implement perfect imperfection into your own life:
1. Be kind to yourself
We all have imperfections as human beings. Try to love and appreciate those imperfections. It is part of what makes you beautiful and uniquely you.
2. Slow down
Appreciate the art of being. Appreciate your surroundings. Appreciate the fact that you are alive to witness them.
3. Start with a single item
Examine an item with imperfections, and appreciate its character. Accept it as it is.
To get you started, we are giving away fourteen tins of misprinted Sleep Balm. The product inside is perfectly good, but the tins were printed off-center. Perfect imperfection at its finest! (Please note that in rare cases there can be sharp edges or leaked product. We’ve checked these balms thoroughly, but have not broken the freshness seal or opened them.)
Enter below for your chance to win! This contest is open internationally and ends at 2pm EST on Tuesday, 01/19/2016. 14 winners will be chosen at random, contacted directly, and announced on our Facebook page. Good luck!
Jentri Jollimore has been with Badger's marketing department since 2008, and active in the natural products industry for more than 10 years. When she's not handling PR and Social Media for Badger, she enjoys playing guitar, composing songs, and writing scores for short films.
Jentri's Favorite Badger products: Damascus Rose Face Oil, Beard Oil, Seabuckthorn Beauty Balm, and Badger Balm.
116 comments on “Perfect Imperfection (+ Giveaway!)”
Appreciation to my father who shared with me regarding this website, this website is truly amazing.|
Love this perfect article about imperfection, thanks!
Thanks for reading, Susanne! 🙂
Jentri
Great blog post! Definitely applicable to Type A personalities, like myself 🙂
I Love Lavender.
I embrace imperfection by loving myself and loving who I am.
I struggle to embrace my imperfections everyday. I dress for the body I have and not the one I want. I try not to make apologies for the state of my house. A burned roast chicken dinner can be a perfectly acceptable stew.
I tend to be a perfectionist-especially when it comes to new things. I stress about the first scratch in my new purse or the first dent etc. When we got a new couch I did not enjoy it at first because I was so stressed trying to keep it flawless and spotless. Trying to achieve or maintain perfection can take joy out of life and is a lot of work. I try to remind myself to not “stress over the little things” and to “don’t worry, be happy”. Great giveaway! Instead of tossing the not so perfect tins out-just share them…genious!
I love both the sleep balm and the night night balm. smells different but equally effective. i finish these very quickly because i use it everywhere. it is called my everywhere balm. perhaps badger could make sleep balm in a stick like the sunscreen
I embrace imperfection by accepting everything about me, good or bad, imperfection is part of our lives, part of reality we live in,
I embrace imperfection by really appreciate what is “different” about me. Nobody is perfect and I enjoy being uniquely myself.
I love this. Imperfections make us unique! We can’t but embrace it.
Beauty marks that makes us beautiful
I embrace imperfection by accepting myself for who I am.
How do I embrace imperfection? Looking at it, not away, and learning to love it just as it is, without having to see a “bright side” or a story to justify it.
We are God’s creation, so there is no imperfection in us !
I embrace my imperfections with acceptance and loving myself the way I am!
I try to embrace my imperfections because they make who I am!
This is my favorite balm!
It’s hard to pick, but I think this is my favorite Badger product!
I join the giveaway.
Great giveaway – we love your products!
Enjoyed your blog…Wabi Sabi, who knew ? Basically, a more refined way of saying “don’t sweat the small stuff”
There is beauty and value in everything. Imperfections add to not take away from something
If everything was perfect we would not be human.. To love imprefection it to love I
Oneself
I create art and when something is imperfect or a mistake is made, I just repeat it on the other side and it becomes part of the design!
I embrace imperfection by finding the beauty within. Many mistakes have become wonderful inventions like Penicillin.
I try to embrace imperfection by trying to bring the scenario down to size. It’s usually truly not that big of a deal if I will just take a deep breath and put it into perspective.
I try to embrace imperfection by trying to bring the scenario down to size. It’s usually truly not that big of a deal if I will just take a deep breath and put it into perspective.
Finding things to be thankful for everyday has helped me not to worry about imperfections.
I embrace imperfection by realizing that the smallest things can make the biggest impact. I may dislike my imperfections, but I would not be the same person without them and would not interact with others the same way. I strive for excellence, not perfection
I love Badger Balm! Baby Balm is my go to new mom gift.
I brace my imperfections by being myself.
We love this for our 2 year old! She even requests it!
Embracing imperfection means that even though I may not be perfect, everything about me makes me who I am. Imperfections can lead to strength.
I love the sleep balm, who cares what the package says.
I try to accept my imperfections – but it’s so hard.
I find my balance outdoors, around nature. I can clear my mind that way.
Thank you for this post! Great read.
It is all about balance, even if it is a bit off center 🙂
I embrace imperfection everyday by just being me and knowing it is ok to not be perfect. Perfect is over rated.
I embrace imperfection by reframing my thoughts
I embrace the imperfection the best I can ! I learn to love it ….
Would love to try this 🙂
I have been dealing with hormonal acne for a couple of years now. I have been editing out my acne in photoshop for my blog, and this past Summer, I decided to stop and embrace my perfectly perfect imperfections. I am beautiful even with my stress-induced acne. But lately, it has cleared up and I feel confident and even better about myself!
With a sigh and attemtpting to move on as best I can
meditating!
Laughter and learning from my imperfections!
I have a lot of pain in back & neck after a car accident that caused a lot of damage. I could really use something to help me sleep! Your tins are adorable even if the labels aren’t perfect!
By not wearing makeup.
How lovely!
Perfection really is a boogie monster.
Love how it is all natural organic and has the adorable sleeping badger seal!
Welcome it!
I embrace imperfections by focusing on the beauty and uniqueness of it!
I embrace imperfection by enjoying my life anyway.
To love yourself no one is perfect
I embrace imperfection by trying to always see the positive and keeping an open mind…and laughing, lots of laughing!!! Love Badger products!
Imperfection is what makes us unique, I embrace my quirks and the quirks of life with amazement, perfection is boring.
I go with the flow!
I embrace imperfection loving folks as they are. I’m a mama to an 18 month old and he reminds me that from the used cardboard box to the broken crayon, everything can be a treasure if we are willing to see things in that light.
This would be fabulous!
I would love to try this sleep balm! I am sure it works wonders and would be a wonderful addition to anyone’s nighttime regime.
Sleep Balm was the very first Badger product I ever tried and is still my absolute favorite
This stuff is amazing!
I embrace imperfections as a comparison to snowflakes. Everyone is different in their own way. And that’s what makes the little imperfections beautiful. No one else looks like you, or has the same imperfections. Without them, everyone would look the same. And that would be boring.
Imperfection is all a perception. I realized no one is perfect, especially myself. I’m order to be happy with myself, I accept what makes me different.
Imperfection is a daily occurrence in my glass art – it is met with interest and surprise!
I’ve never tried the Sleep Balm, but I do have difficulty with sleep and would love to try it.
I use your Headache Soother all of the time.
Ooh, embracing imperfection isn’t always easy but I try to remember to just laugh and smile – it’s all good and my reaction to imperfection is what matters more than the imperfect thing!
My wife is very OCD about things being “perfect” and since I am not, I stress her out on a daily basis. We’ve had to come together in the middle to make things work and that’s what makes us imperfectly perfect together!!
I embrace imperfections by just knowing that nothing is perfect.
Imperfection makes me perfect!
be positive!
My children have taught me to embrace my imperfections, and see myself through their eyes. In the natural world, there is beauty in every “imperfection”, and there are so many ways your realize it when you look.
I embrace imperfection by trying to always have a good sense of humor and love things in life just the way they are 🙂
Hi folks. Been having insomnia issues due to some medicine. Tried sleep balm and while I may be imperfect, the sleep balm was perfect. Really did the job and I love the fragrance.
Love yourself…every bit of who you are.
With a smile!
Kindness! ❤ I have a son with disabilities who is extremely hard on himself, especially when he makes mistakes. I’m trying to teach him to be kind to himself, we all make mistakes and it’s ok.
I embrace imperfection viewing it as a unique attribute of who I am. <3
Nice post! What a great concept! I too am a self-proclaimed perfectionist, and even though I didn’t know the name Wabi-Sabi, I’ve been working hard to embrace imperfection, especially in myself.
By the way, this is a great product! It’s right in my nightstand for quick access. Love Badger products!
I need all the help I can get with sleeping! I have a broken back and I’m trying to wean myself off pain meds.
I love the topic of this blog, as well as Badger sleep balm! Having been dealing with becoming differently abled by fibromyalgia, I can relate to the concept of perfect imperfection! Since my current tin of sleep balm is almost empty, I am entering this contest!
This is one of my favourite products. The imperfection is fine with me!
I just live the moment and try to accept everything as it comes!
LOVE the sleep balm. LOVE your products!
If it’s a project and I know no one else will realize the imperfection I let it go, I often think of “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” when I’m crafting or sewing. I see imperfect everyday when I’m walking w/our lab around the neighborhood and conservations area – I see Beauty
I’d still buy one like that 🙂
I just let it all hang out! 😀
true perfection has to be imperfect
Great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity!
I embrace imperfection with the humility as only the divine can be perfect.
This product sounds awesome! I embrace imperfection by not letting it get to me and moving on. We all have our flaws, and though we can personally try to do better and be better, God made us perfectly imperfect so that we NEED Him.
I didn’t read the widget entry before I commented. I embrace some imperfections with ease – as the spice of life. Some imperfections I struggle with. My home is one that causes stress with it’s imperfections. I need to get past it and chill!
Imperfections are my best effort at the moment but I have so many more better moments ahead. Watch me.
It’s what’s inside that counts 🙂
I remind myself that sometimes good enough is enough. I’m an elementary teacher and I would never expect my students to be perfect, so why should I demand it from myself? After years of trying to have a perfectly decorated and clean room. So sometimes something is off center or messy. Maybe my baskets don’t match. As long as it’s done, good enough is enough.
Love your self for who you are in side
This balm is so incredibly helpful to me when I have headachey, sleepless nights.
I don’t mind a little imperfection in my life!
Who is to tell that something is imperfect. Truth lies in one selves belief 😉
I try to accept imperfections, but it’s still quite difficult. I just try and remember that everyone isn’t focused on every tiny thing that I do like I am.
One of my must have products!! Essential every night !!!
Imperfections make us who we are so embrace it!
I’ve never tried this blend but I love every Badger product I’ve ever tried. Crossing my fingers for happy night times in my home! Thank you!
I laugh at my imperfections because they are my perfections!
I embrace imperfection with open arms!
What a great idea
I turn what came out ‘less than perfect’ into an opportunity to try something new. Recipes, especially, lol!
One of my favorite products! Got my mom using it recently too.
I embrace imperfection (as a working wife and mom) daily by trying to enjoy the mistakes! I laugh at myself which helps to relieve the tension and stress of the moment. Everything that goes wrong can be a lesson, and you can also make light of your stressors and turn things around!
Acceptance.
I know 14 people who could really use this! 🙂
learn to love imperfection
Well written! This is something I’ve struggled with a lot in the past, I’ve let some controlling tendencies go and realized that another’s way is not necessarily the wrong way.
I embrace imperfection the best that I can. You have to take most things with a grain of salt and I will say that having children has definitely help me to not have everything so perfect in my life.
I Really could use this, I work shift work and have a tough time sleeping ! Would love to try this !!!
Aww, I think you could still sell these. Us customers are not as picky about packaging mistakes as you might think. 🙂