It’s odd that we should even think about having to find the courage to be imperfect. Because, of course, we are always imperfect, however hard we try.
According to Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, we strive for perfection because we feel that to be worthy, and to deserve the admiration and love of others, only our perfect selves will suffice.
Again this is clearly wrong. As she says in the video below, we attract the attention and admiration of others not by being perfect, but by being ourselves – authentic, accessible and vulnerable.
I think this is an important lesson for freelancers to learn, because so many freelancers hold back and hide, in the belief that they are not ready, and that they will deserve the attention and admiration of their peers, prospects and clients only when their websites and their work are perfect.
Not true.
Don’t hide, and don’t wait, trying to make everything perfect. Get out there and show your true self to the world.
And if you are not quite sure how powerful imperfection can be, just take a look at a drawing by a young child. Imperfect, but beautiful.
Enjoy the video.
About the author: Nick Usborne is an online writer, copywriter, author and coach. Read more…
Thanks, Nick for the great post. To let ourselves be seen … believe that we’re enough — simple but powerful statements!
Very moving, especially when the speaker describes that by numbing your pain, you numb your creativity. Definitely worth the 20 minutes to watch. 🙂
Thanks for posting, Nick. I’d watched this before, but had forgotten it, and really enjoyed it. It’s so interesting, I’m reading two books right now that speak to some of the things she’s talking about. They’re both by the same author — Jonathan Haidt — another researcher. I was deep into his latest book, “The Righteous Mind”, about why people can’t talk to each other about politics and religion, when he kept teasing me with excerpts from his earlier book, so I got that and am now following what it says. This book is The Happiness Hypothesis. I can easily state it’s the most important book I’ve read in a very long time, and it’s changing my life. I think both books will.
Good post, thanks Nick
It’s a tricky balance, to accept that imperfection is OK, but to get the really important stuff right.