Loading summary
Transcript12 lines
- [00:00]
Jemma Speg
Foreign this is Open Mind. Welcome to a brand new week. Here is your mantra I allow myself to be imperfect. I'm Jemis Beck and every Monday I give you a simple but powerful phrase to consider and bring into your life. A philosophy to guide you in the week ahead and hopefully even beyond. In each episode, you guys know I unpack what our Mantra really means, how it has shown up in my own life, and how you can hopefully bring it into yours with journal prompts and a weekly challenge to help you take this mantra and put it into action at Open Mind Plus. We really value your support, so please make sure to share your thoughts on social media and remember to rate, review and follow Mantra to help others discover the show. For more exclusive exclusive content, monthly bonus episodes, early access and ad free listening. Join our Open Mind plus community on Apple Podcasts each month. I also respond to your questions and comments in our bonus episodes. So feel free to leave a comment on this episode or you can DM me on Instagram at Mantra Open Mind. Stick around. We'll be right back after this short pause. Did you know that gum disease has been strongly linked to cardiovascular issues like stroke and heart attacks? At Smile Generation, oral health is treated like what it really is, the gateway to your entire body. The mouth is literally the unsung hero of your overall health. When you take care of it, you improve your entire well being. Prevention and early detection often starts with oral exams, which can help diagnose health risks early. Luckily, Smile Generation has you covered, right Right now, Smile Generation is offering a $59 new patient special. That's a comprehensive exam, cleaning and X rays at a value of $290 for just $59. This offer is for new patients only. It is not valid for Tricare or Medicare Advantage and may be covered by insurance subject to your plan restrictions. To take advantage of this offer, book Your appointment by December 31, 2025 for complete terms and conditions. And to book your appointment, just visit SmileGeneration.com that's SmileGeneration.com mantra.
- [02:38]
Advertisement Voice
If you're an experienced pet owner, you already know that having a pet is 25% belly rubs, 25% yelling drop it. And 50% groaning at the bill from every pet visit. Which is why Lemonade Pet insurance is tailor made for your pet and can save you up to 90% on vet bills. It can help cover checkups, emergencies, diagnostics, basically all the stuff that makes your bank account get nervous. Claims are filed super easily through the Lemonade app and half get settled instantly. Get a quote@lemonade.com pet and they'll help cover the vet bill for whatever your pet swallowed after you yelled, drop it.
- [03:12]
Jemma Speg
Okay, let's get right into it. It is time for this week's mantra. I allow myself to be imperfect. Let's start by exploring the opposite of imperfection. Let's talk about perfection. And let's talk about why it's firstly, unattainable, but secondly, something that we still blindly aspire towards. Perfection is one of those ideals in some form or another that has been held up for centuries as the ultimate human aspiration, the final form that we should all be aiming for. We should constantly be trying to better ourselves, to look better, to optimize ourselves, to optimize our performance so that we can get to what this peak moment, this peak experience of being the perfect human with no issues, no flaws, no nothing, no imperfections. From the time we're young, we are told stories of flawless heroes. We see images of flawless beauty. We hear narratives of flawless success. People who came from nothing and now have everything. And along the way, they didn't do anything wrong. Or if they did, it wasn't their fault. They were always this grand, great person we know them to be now. The allure of perfection, I think, lies in the promise that it seems to hold. If we can just do everything right, if we can just be everything to everyone and never make a mistake, we'll finally be safe from rejection, we'll be safe from judgment, we'll be safe from failure. It is, I think, the ultimate fantasy of control. And this idea that if we are perfect, life will unfold exactly as we want it to. And we won't experience pain, we won't experience suffering. We won't experience any of the sometimes hard things about being human. And so it really is, again, about control. It's about wanting to be certain about things. It's about wanting to make sure that we know what's going to happen and that we can change our behavior to make what we want to happen happen. It's deeply psychological, as are most things, I think. The thing is. Spoiler alert. Although I'm sure every single one of you listening already knows this. There is not a single human alive who is perfect and who would meet every single person's standards for perfection. Because by meeting one person's standards, they would always fail someone else's. There is not a human alive who can be every single person's cup of tea. There is not a human alive who isn't actually made better, in my opinion, by their imperfections. Imperfection is actually, I think, more special, more wonderful, more human than perfection ever will be. Because it's what allows us to be intricate. It's what allows us to be unique. Why don't we focus on all the ways that we're individual? Why don't we focus on the brilliance of mistakes and learnings? Why don't we focus on the life experience that is brought about by trying and failing and therefore expanding? We don't focus on these things because somewhere along the way, someone did teach us. They were able to get it into our mind that perfection is possible. And not only that, but if we're not striving for it, we are the problem. We are the reason that the standard hasn't been reached. We are contributing to societal collapse or societal downfall by not making this our inspiration and aspiration. Where does this begin? It begins with the institutions that are closest to us and closest to our epicenter as humans. So family, school culture, the media, parents, even unintentionally, they reward good behavior and achievement whilst punishing mistakes, even those that are completely normal for a child to make. And so they plant this idea of. Of continual achievement and constant goodness well before we even recognize it. And it creates this kind of sense of conditional acceptance. You will not be accepted, you will not be loved. Whether you do this perfectly, whether you are everything that we want you to be. Schools, even if your parents didn't do this, which I know some people's parents didn't, and had such healthy relationships with this, schools, though, definitely do. And they reinforce this through grades, through rankings, through SAT scores, through setting up a world, a micro environment where worth is measured in numbers and letters, in A's and A pluses, and in 99% and whatever it is, 50 out of 50s or being number one. And so if school is the first institution we probably come across, you can see how those environments continue to be replicated the older we get. In workplaces, in social clubs, in the gym, in all areas of our life and culture, through advertising, through social media, even through workplace standards, consistently presents again these curated, idealized images of what success, beauty or happiness should look like, so that there is absolutely no escaping it. There's no escaping it at home, there's no escaping it at school, there's no escaping it at work. There's no escaping it on the subway or on the train, or walking around on the street. Over time, we really begin to internalize all of these voices, these disparate voices, and we begin to internalize this idea that we will not be happy Unless we do something perfectly and unless we ourselves are perfect. And if we can't actually be perfect, we can most certainly present a perfect facade. The tragedy is once more that perfection is biologically, psychologically, physiologically impossible. Just going to make that super clear. As human beings, you and I are actually wired for error. We learn through trial and error. Literally, that is one of the only ways that neural pathways and synaptic pruning takes place. We grow through falling short. And our bodies, our minds, are built on constant imperfection cells, they mutate, memory fail, emotions fluctuate. Even our idea of perfection is not perfect and is fluid and changes across time, across culture, even across perspectives. What is seen as perfect in one generation or culture can be seen as deeply flawed in another. I think this is especially case with beauty standards and how different physiques are either praised or hated, depending on what decade it is. And you always think, you know, this is just how someone's body naturally looks. We are not meant to be shaped and molded like we're play DOH into this type of figure one year, this type of figure the next. You need to be tiny and thin this year, but then next year we're going to prioritize and think that people who have hips are hot. And the year after that you have to look athletic and the year after that you have to go back to thin again. And it's like literally our standard of perfection is again not even perfect because it doesn't even freaking know what it wants. And us as a society cannot land on what we actually think perfect is year after year. In this sense, perfection isn't just unattainable, it's undefined perfect. It's very much like a mirage in the desert where we think we're almost there, we think we're going to drink, you know, this beautiful, wonderful, secret elixir that is perfection. And then right as we go over the hill, there it is again in the distance. It disappears, we will never reach. Is like a treadmill. It's like a treadmill. That way you are convinced that you're getting somewhere, but really you're just exhausting yourself. Yet despite that, again, perfection sells. Think about it for a second. Industries profit from our insecurities. They make money from promoting perfection because then they can sell us, us imperfect humans, the ones who are not as perfect as those on the billboards or in the ads. The so called secret formula to getting to where they believe or where they've presented people can be, you know, we can become what they're representing. If only we buy what they're selling. If only we buy this makeup product or we buy this type of concealer or this type of water bottle, or we have this type of routine, or we go to this kind of gym. There are corporate structures that are hiding behind our perfectionist ideals, ready to pounce and sell us something. We become convinced that imperfection is a problem to be fixed and to be bought away, rather than the very condition I think of being alive. This is a financially viable concept for these companies. It might sound like a conspiracy. I know I'm probably sounding a little bit strange talking on and on about it, but there have been entire books, there have been entire doctorates written on how imperfection and perfection and their constant battle are incredible marketing tools and make a lot of money. The sad thing is, though, when we treat imperfection as something to hide, we lose the chance to be fully human in front of others in a way that we are really deeply called in our soul to be. Vulnerability is often what draws people closer to us. But when we hide our mistakes, when we hide our flaws or our struggles, we present only that polished surface that no one can actually fully connect with, that no one can relate to. This creates a real distance, a noticeable distance between us and the people we most want to reach. Because I think they can sense the performance. They can sense that this isn't real. They can sense that this isn't really us. But they want the person underneath. They just don't know how to find them. Over time, that gap between hiding who we really are and pretending to be something we're not, or trying so hard to not make mistakes that we withdraw means that we become very, very lonely. And means that there is this quiet sense deep down that nobody knows the real us, nobody would love the real us. Because we've never given them a chance. We've never allowed them to. We often, as well, hold ourselves to impossible standards that we would never expect from the people that we love. Because deep down, we equate our self worth with performance. But we understand that others have worth even if they never achieve anything in their life. You have worth just simply by existing. They have worth even if they're not perfect for others. We can recognize that mistakes, quirks, struggles. That's what makes them human. That's what makes us love them. That's what brings about laughter. That's what brings about great stories that connect us and show that we were there for important parts in that person's life. But again, when it comes to ourselves, we have this fear If I were to show people this, they would know I am unworthy of belonging in this group or unworthy of being in their presence. And this internal double standard reveals really just how harshly we judge ourselves compared to the compassion that we are so willing to extend to others. But let's explore this other possibility. What if we began to let others see our flaws instead of hiding them behind a mask of perfection? I think our relationships would actually deepen in profound, almost spiritual ways. Vulnerability is the bridge to intimacy. As Brene Brown says, it signals trust when we admit, you know, I don't have it all together. We give others permission to do the same. And we create that space where authenticity replaces performance. Rather than exhausting ourselves to keep up with appearances and then never fully being able to be present, we actually begin to experience the relief of what it feels like just to be accepted exactly as we are. And not just the relief, but just like this sense of unburdening that you can just, like, release the shackles, drop the mask, be present. This shift transforms the dynamics of our closest relationships. There is no longer comparison. There is no longer silent competition. There is no longer hiding things. There is no longer wanting people to see the parts of you you don't really like. You are able to really relate further through empathy, through shared humanity, through shared stories of the times that you made mistakes. You grew anyways, or maybe you didn't, but, you know, someone else made it as well. These mistakes, these flaws, stop being a source of shame, and they stop being a really enthusiastic and wonderful source of connection. When we don't embrace perfection as well, we also lose access to one of the most powerful drivers that we have as humans, the most powerful driver of growth, which is failure. Psychologists have long emphasized that mistakes are not just setbacks. They're actually essential information. They are sources of data. They are feedback loops that teach us that what doesn't work out still has value and still allows us to get closer to what does, even if, in that moment, it doesn't feel like it. When we fear imperfection, we rob ourselves of this very natural, innate learning process instead of experimenting and saying, okay, that didn't work. I can cross that off my list. Instead of expanding, we stagnate in the small, safe versions of ourselves, and we cling to what feels manageable rather than venturing into what really, I guess, feels alive. Ironically, it is in fact, our perfections that carve out the path to mastery, to wisdom, to creativity, to truly feeling the way we want to feel about ourselves and feeling good about our Identity. There is also another element of this that we need to discuss, the link between imposter syndrome and our fear of imperfection, because they are actually very closely linked and more related than what most people would think. At the core of both of these experiences, imposter syndrome and the fear of imperfection, lies this relentless belief that who we are or what we produce is never enough unless it meets some imagined, flawless standard. Imposter syndrome convinces us that any misstep will expose us as frauds, whilst the fear of imperfection convinces us that missteps must be avoided at all costs. In both cases, our worth becomes entangled with the our ability to walk this tightrope with external validation and with the illusion of control and the idea that if we can just make everything just as it should be, we can not experience or we can avoid the pains of life, which we all know nobody can. When we live in this mindset, every project, every relationship, every opportunity feels like a test, feels like something that we have to get right, rather than something that we can actually just have fun with and learn from. True mastery, true confidence comes from being able to rebound from mistakes and comes from being able to accept imperfection as an asset. But both of these experiences of imposter syndrome and our fear of imperfection blind us to that. That is why so many highly capable people struggle with both, because their fear of being found out fuels a perfectionist cycle that leaves very little room to be creative, to take risks, to do things that they're unsure of. So what is the alternative here? What might happen if and when we start treating imperfection differently? What would happen if we started seeing imperfection as an asset? So many things. So many things that I think we're going to need to take a short break and then talk about them in a second so we can just process what we've talked about so far and come back with a bit of a fresh match mind. So I'm going to share all of that and so much more, along with how this has showed up in my own life after this short break.
- [20:17]
Advertisement Voice
Meet Natural Cycles, the only FDA cleared and CE marked birth control app that's built around your body. The Natural Cycles app pinpoints your fertile days by tracking shifts in your temperature so you can plan or prevent pregnancy naturally. It's easy to use. Simply take your temperature in the morning with our free Bluetooth thermometer included with our annual plan, or sync with your Oura ring or Apple Watch. The app analyzes your data and tells you daily whether it's a fertile or non fertile day. Natural cycles is 93% effective with typical use and 98% effective with perfect use. But beyond effective birth control, the app helps you understand your body and cycle better than ever. And unlike some period tracking apps, Natural Cycles provides an advanced data protection program to keep your information private and secure. Ready to go hormone free? Sign up for the Natural Cycles Annual plan and get a free Bluetooth thermometer plus 15% off your subscription with the code RADIO15@naturalcycles.com get smoother, brighter skin instantly.
- [21:20]
In one easy step, Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant gives you the smooth, glowy skin you want to without damaging your skin barrier. This gentle exfoliating powder activates with water to smooth out rough texture and brighten skin. It's powerful enough to deliver results, yet gentle enough to use every single day, even on sensitive skin. See the results for yourself, visit dermalogica.com and use code smooth at cart for an exclusive free gift with $65 purchase.
- [21:47]
Jemma Speg
Welcome back. Now that we've looked at the very complex, multilayered meaning behind today's mantra, I allow myself to be imperfect. It's time to get I want to chat with you guys about how this has showed up in my own life and some of my own insights and reflections about this phrase. I have perfectionism in my veins. Both my parents, I think, are deeply, deeply perfectionist people, even if they won't admit it. And I don't think they actually put too much of that on me, but it must have been genetic. I think they did such a good job of being like, you just need to exist and be happy and that's all we care about. I don't know where it came in. Somewhere along the way, this perfectionism, parasite and plague snuck into my mind and has since showed up in many, many ways. The one that I primarily think of is school. I feel like when we have those structures like school, like work, like relationships that aren't very straightforward or that are very. I guess there's like a real goal at the end of the tunnel that we want to work towards. Whether that's a promotion, whether that's getting good grades, whether that's being with someone forever or getting someone to like you, that is where our perfectionism shows up the most, because it loves a goal and it specifically loves to push a goal until it is unattainable and beyond belief. When I was in school, I just remember feeling like my grades and how I present myself and how will I do academically is the entire wealth and magnitude of my worth. Everything is tied back to this thing because it was this very discreet and very easy thing to tie my worth too. It was like either I do well or I don't do well. And if I do well, well, then I'm good and I work hard and I'm intelligent and if I don't well, then I know that I'm not. This thing was able to confirm something about me. I wanted it to tell me something about myself. My grades became larger than just how well I did on a math test or how deeply I had read an English book or an English assignment and became a symbol of my morality and my worthiness as a human. That led to some very obsessive behaviors. It also led to a lot of procrastination at times as well, which would then be counteracted with some again, very obsessive behaviors and very hardworking self sabotaging tendencies. And that cycle kind of went round and round. It followed me into uni, it followed me into my corporate career. And in some ways I think it still stayed. Actually. My desire to talk about this mantra really came from a conversation I had with a listener a few weeks ago. This was at one of my book tour stops and I had this listener in Chicago ask me the question, how do you deal with the anxiety around imperfection when making the podcast? And it was honestly such a great question. But I also struggled to answer it on the spot because sometimes I don't think I do deal with it. So here is the answer I would have given. I don't always deal with it well, but I understand now that imperfection is the price you pay for trying and failing, and then one day trying and succeeding. It is the price you pay for one day being able to say, look at all this. I tried. Finally I've gotten it right. You know, when I started making the psychology of your 20s, it was on my iPhone and it wasn't very good quality and it was imperfect. But I needed to do it imperfectly first. Because trying to aim for perfection in those early years or even those early days would have created so many major roadblocks and so many deeper complications that by the time I came around to recording an episode, I wouldn't have felt worthy of doing it anyways. I needed it to just be what it was. I needed it to just be whatever I was willing and could make at that moment and then we could grow from there. There was also things that I was not going to be able to learn unless I made the mistakes myself. No matter how much advice someone may give you for starting a project, starting a job, starting a new career, starting a creative endeavor. There's always going to be something they forget, and there's always going to be something that even if they tell you about, you still won't understand until you learn it yourself. And so that's really what I think I had to go through and I had to do. And it was incredible at reprogramming my brain to see imperfection and mistakes as not something that needed to ruin my day, but something that I could file away under learnings and hold sacred and move on from there. I think, because I was willing to embrace that things weren't going to work out and that I could never and would never be this perfect person. And the things I made would always have some kind of fault. I had no fear and I could just try. There was also this kind of invisibility to this project, to the psychology of your 20s when I first started it, which was that I didn't really have any listeners and I didn't have any success. And that was actually amazing. It was amazing to actually not be successful at the beginning because I had room to explore. And so sometimes I think when you're trying something, you just have to remember that there is no one watching your life as closely as you are. There is no one obsessed, obsessing over all the things that you think are wrong about you or unattractive about you or whatever it is. There is no audience perform for you, make sure that your actions are visible, but only to be judged by you and you only if that makes sense. Because I think that our fear of imperfection is more deeply a fear of judgment imperfection. It does expose us. A missed detail, a failed attempt, a visible flaw. Food in your teeth, your fly undone. You know, these moments remind us that other people see us in these vulnerable spaces. You know, the human brain is wired for belonging. So when we feel exposed, we also feel judged. And that feels threatening. It almost feels like a form of exile. That's why it's not just about making the mistake itself that feels so painful that it's the imagined chorus of eyes that are watching us and evaluating us and confirming our worst fears about ourselves that stops us from trying and stops us from once again being put in the place where someone could point to us and say, look, they did that wrong look. That wasn't right at its core. This is, of course, a social fear. We don't want to be seen as incompetent at work. We don't Want to be seen as unattractive in dating. We don't want to seem behind in life's milestones compared to our peers. So what's the best antidote to that? Chasing perfection. Hoping. Just hoping we can get as close as we can. And even though we know it's unattainable, it's such a great distraction to not sitting down and looking deeply in the mirror and at our own lives and thinking, what is this really representing? What am I so afraid of is going to happen? That's the question I really want to invite you to answer. What exactly would happen if someone judged you? What would happen if you were rejected? What is the actual cost of one individual not liking you because of their own preferences or because of their own issues? You know what? I'm not going to answer that for you, but I think you can get to the end conclusion, which is nothing. You can always recover from someone not liking you. This is such a powerful question to pause on because it allows us to see that this fear, the reason that it's so scary is because we don't examine it enough. And there's this, like, kind of sense of invisibility to it and the sense of like, shrouded mystery where we like, know we should be afraid, but we don't really know why. And then when we really ask ourselves, why exactly should I be afraid of imperfection or judgment? And we pull back the curtain, we're like, oh, there's actually nothing here. This was a bit of a trick. I actually don't have anything to fear. We often imagine these things as catastrophic when in reality we failing, not being liked, doing something wrong, it's simply information. The cost we anticipate is much lower in reality. We are not going to have our lives ruined because we weren't perfect one time. In one situation, in one instance, in fact, we may even be liked more. And of course, the paradox is that judgment is going to happen regardless. Even perfection invites scrutiny. Think about, like, the most beautiful person you know. Think about a model, the most famous model you know. There are still people who say, oh, she's not very attractive. Think about Pamela Anderson. I've been thinking about her a lot recently. Arguably one of the most beautiful people in the world. People still find a reason not to like her. Think about some of the kindest people in the world, Some of the most gentle people still find reasons not to like them because again, it's not about them, is it? It's not about them. It's about other people. Recognizing this is truly Freeing because it shows us that perfection is just a false shield and that true resilience comes from not never being judged, but from learning to live authentically despite what other people are going to throw at you. Here are some tips for being imperfect. My first tip is to understand that being imperfect actually generates momentum and it unlocks a growth mindset. There is evidence that a growth mindset is the number one thing that people who are successful have in common. They see mistakes as just as important as their successes. Embracing perfection as well. We also want to remember it actually makes you more creative. It makes you a better friend. And that act of reframing things and understanding that it's going to create more connection, it's going to actually create more opportunities, it's going to allow you to expand is really important to be more psychologically comfortable with it. I also want you to reflect on those heroes of yours. People who you admire, who aren't perfect. Friends, family, pop stars, media sensations, book characters, every single one, anyone you admire, there's something about them that is imperfect that someone would judge as imperfect. What is it? Make sure that that's just as much a part of your story as well the acceptance of those parts of you as it is of your acceptance of your heroes. Reflect on the imperfections in your life that created good things. Don't just focus on everything that worked out. Focus on the times that, oh, you know, we took a wrong turn on this road trip and we found the best pie store I've ever been to focus on the times that, you know, oh, I missed my train, but turns out the train broke down anyways. And so because they got an Uber, I actually got to work faster. Focus on some non transit related ones. I should say just times that you made mistakes and that things did go right, you didn't get the job you wanted, that person rejected you on a date and it was all for the best. Be okay with those moments and with being less than and being imperfect because being okay with them shows that you appreciate the real spectrum and diversity of human existence and the fact that sometimes you need to be like an arrow pulled backwards before you can be flung forwards. Also, when it comes to creativity, I know this is a very specific one, but it really did come to my mind. Give yourself time limits to create. Give yourself time to not linger on how to do everything just right. Don't allow yourself to spend years making a decision because you think that there's going to be one perfect one. There won't be. Don't delay doing things going places, making things, because you're obsessed with what would be the best use of your time. The best use of your time is just to do something. There's no way of knowing if there is a perfect future or a perfect next moment out there or a perfect creation. You just have to make something and that's better than nothing. And also for my people who are obsessed with perfection out of a need for control, this is a good exercise, which is just to let other people lead, let other people make a mess of things, let other people be in charge, let go of the reins and see how when things aren't perfect or aren't exactly as you want them to be, it's not always a disaster. You don't always have to be in control. I think embracing imperfection in that way has actually made my life easier. It's made it a lot more chill, a lot more freeing because I'm not wasting all this time and energy trying to capture something that I just never was going to. It's one thing to think about imperfection and another to bring that awareness into our daily lives. So I hope some of those tips have helped you with that. After this break, I'm going to give you some journal prompts. I'm going to give you this week's challenge. So stick around. We'll be back for more very, very soon.
- [34:37]
Advertisement Voice
When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn more at WhatsApp.com upgrade your laundry routine with a durable and reliable Maytag laundry pair at Lowes. Like the new Maytag washer and dryer with performance enhanced stain fighting power designed to cut through serious dirt and grime. And what's great is this laundry pair is in stock and ready for delivery when you need it the most. Don't miss out. Shop maybe in store or online today at Lowe's.
- [35:34]
Jemma Speg
On his podcast chasing life, I'm Dr.
- [35:36]
Advertisement Voice
Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent brings.
- [35:40]
Jemma Speg
You the secrets of the happiest and healthiest people on the planet so that you can live your best life. Are some people just born happier than others? And what might they be doing that the rest of us aren't? Follow chasing life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
- [35:55]
Advertisement Voice
On Apple, Spotify, Iheart Podcasts, Amazon Music.
- [35:59]
Jemma Speg
Or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back. This week's mantra is I allow myself to be imperfect. After all our discussions, it is time to ground ourselves in this phrase, starting with our deep thought of the day, which comes from Salvador Dali. Have no fear of perfection. You will never reach it. You know, I find that statement to be both. Initially, it was kind of scary, and secondly, quite freeing. You know that you'll never reach it that big. Never. That's in the center of that quote. When I first read it, I was like, what do you mean, never? I don't like these possibilities, these certainties. But what he's really saying is there's freedom in that. There is no need to fear this thing that all of us are kind of terrified of not being, because it doesn't even exist anyway. And I think it really gets to that illusion, the illusion that if we're perfect, everything's going to be fine, life is going to be painless, we're going to be happier. He's saying, no, it's not. It's not going to be. But you don't have to worry, you don't have to fear, because life works out anyways. And once we accept that, we find the freedom to be exploratory and to just exist without wasting all our time on this false reality that we've been sold. It's time for our weekly journal practice to help explore what this mantra is bringing up for you today, tomorrow, for the rest of the week. And like I always say, if journaling isn't your thing or you don't have one nearby, that is totally okay. You can literally just think about your answers in your head, maybe pause the episode, and yeah, if that's what works for you, that's amazing. As long as you give yourself the space to reflect in your own time. Let's get into these prompts, starting with this first one. Can you recall a time when trying to be perfect held you back from starting something you cared about? I definitely can. Next, where in your life do you feel the strongest urge to appear perfect? And why? What fears come up for you when you think about letting others see your flaws? And finally, how would future you open up if you stopped waiting to be ready or to be perfect before taking action? I love these journal prompts. They're definitely ones I'm going to be reflecting on myself. But it's also time to just give your mind a moment to rest with those questions in mind. With this mantra in mind, in just a second, you'll Hear a music track. I want to invite you to take this opportunity to process this week's reflections in whatever way feels right to you. No pressure, no expectations. And if this isn't something you connect with, that's totally okay. I know it's not for everyone. Feel free just to Skip ahead around 30 seconds. But as you settle in, keep our mantra in mind. I allow myself to be imperfect. As the music plays, just let this mantra shape your thoughts and just take time to connect with whatever it is bringing up for you. You beautiful. Now that you've had a moment to reset and ground yourself, it is time to take that energy and bring it into action with our weekly challenge. And love to hear how it's going. Feel free to reach out to me at Mantra Open Mind. And each month, you guys know I respond to your questions, your experiences, your dilemmas. Maybe to do with this challenge and anything else you have on your mind. I'll be doing that in a special bonus episode available exclusively on Open Mind, which we do every single month. This week, your challenge is. I want you to celebrate the flaws at the end of each day. Name one imperfect thing about yourself that showed up today. Maybe a quirk, something you think of as a slip up, something that you felt embarrassed by, and just consciously reframe it as proof of your humanity. Think about it like, wow, that's so interesting that I did that. That that's so unique that I did that. That's so special about me that no one else has. Ground yourself in. How imperfection also brings about authenticity and individuality. Alrighty. As we wrap up this week's episode, I wanted to share a few final thoughts about this mantra. I allow myself to be imperfect again. Once you embrace imperfection and just let yourself, yourself, show up as you are, life becomes a lot easier. There's a lot less pressure to perform. There's a lot less pressure to somehow make other people happy. Through your perfection or your behavior, you just get to be. And that's such a wonderful thing to experience as a human being. Imperfect, it's not something to fix. It's literally part of being who you are and expressing yourself and just showing up authentically. When we stop chasing flawlessness, we allow ourselves to. To experience life as it really is. And I think that's beautiful and that's a gift and that's something that I want for every single one of you. So I really do hope this mantra has solidified that appreciation and that understanding for you today. Thank you for joining Mantra, an exclusive Open Mind original powered by Pave Studios at Open Mind. We value your support, so share your thoughts on social media and remember to rate, review and follow Mantra to help others discover the show. For ad, free listening and early access to Mantra with me, Jemma Speg. We invite you to subscribe to Open Mind plus on Apple Podcasts. I'll share another insightful and introspective Mantra with you next Monday. Until then, keep showing up for yourself and your journey. I'm Gemma Speg. See you next week. Mantra is hosted by me, Jemma Speg. It is an Open Mind original powered by Pain Studio Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Incredible Mantra team Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Stacy Warrenker, Sarah Camp, and Paul Lieberskind. Thank you for listening.