The Wisdom of Being Flawed
The book entitled, The Spirituality of Imperfection, suggests that people actually relate to one another is through their flaws. This makes a lot of sense to those of us who have found it annoying to be around someone who appears to do everything perfectly. I can feel more normal in my own imperfections when someone tells me how they screwed up or how things didn't work out as they had hoped. In such moments I'm able to talk about my mistakes and regrets without being as guarded. The whole interaction becomes freeing to me and creates a strong bond in the friendship.
The Spirituality of Imperfection is about the wisdom of just allowing ourselves to be human—flaws and all. It is by accepting our humanness that we grow spiritually because we finally recognize that we don’t have to have all of the answers. There is great freedom in not needing to know what is the right action in all situations. We then have the humility to ask for help from others and our higher power, which brings to our attention possibilities we never considered. This humility also makes it easier to not judge others when they ask us for help.
posted by David Treanor @ 12:10 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
David,
I came across this quotation that relates directly to your insightful post:
"The true Pilgrim falls backwards into His awareness. Or not! What is sure is that there is no non-Path. In His Travels everything He encounters is True. Any Seeker who, in stumbling over His own robe, oversteps a curl of dung, surely realizes that His apparent mis-takes have equal wisdom to His best efforts. Every Man is in every moment recreating the World. All the choices of a Creator are His. That is, He writes His life upon a blank plane bearing no right or no error. Or maybe not."
Great quotation, Anonymous. It reminds me to accept each moment. Afterall, I'm on God's path and all is for a reason.
i can really relate to this notion of perceived perfection or feeling discomfort around letting our own imperfections show. when i think about this topic i always recall a time when i was telling a friend about how i would take splenda from the office coffee area. (btw, i'm not a complete monster stealing splenda from a tight workforce of 10 individuals, in effect stealing from their actual pockets; no, i work for a giant corporation - so how much harm could a few missing splenda do to the bottom line?) anyway, she looked at me with initial horror and then sheer delight because apparently she TOO stole splenda but the shame she felt was something she planned to take to her grave. she assumed that upon any sort of confession all her friends and family would cease to acknowledge her, or at least never look at her the same way - where was the person they trusted, respected & admired? she was a splenda stealer! the horror! her genuine feeling of shame...and the severity of which she viewed her actions made me realize that if we don't share & communicate our perceived "flaws" we may very well become victims to them. and for nothing, actually, because as was pointed out in the initial thread -chances are there are others, probably many, who have done, felt or experienced the exact same thing. we're not all that unique, after all. so air that dirty laundry! revel in your flaws & imperfections! because quite honestly, i don't give much credence or respect to the people who don't -- i'd rather commiserate over and be privy to geniune flaws than disenguous perfection any day.
Jeano,
Love your story. I recall a similar instance at a corporate campus. I am a notorious food vulture, and one time said to a coworker, "Hey, let's go down and get some of those bagels I saw in the lobby today." She replied with a troubled look, "Oh, but those are for [whoever the guests were at the meeting]." I instantly felt guilty, but only because she said anything. Another time I was mistakenly invited to a meeting where I knew there were snacks. I chose not to decline the invite just so I could go and get some.
Beside the point. Really, what your post brings up is an idea that has developed in me, that I have been puzzling over the verity of which for some time:
Is there really any right, or wrong?
If not, I don't believe this wisdom is in opposition to a deeply spiritual life. Quite the opposite. As the quotation above suggests, it pushes one to define each moment for oneself and with great intention.
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