Sitting here watching Romney and Gingrich lambaste each other on the noontime news, assures me of two things. One, I could never be a public figure. I don’t have the skin for it. Tell me one bad thing about myself and poof! – my campaign would be over. This first thing tells me the second thing – I need to improve myself in a few areas.
Normally when I approach improving something about myself it is with a heavy heart. Having things to improve just points out how far away from the the image I have of myself being this person perfect in all areas of life. Knowing full well neither I or anyone else can ever achieve that state of perfection, just makes my heart heavier. So what am I striving for?
Today I came across something that changed my thinking on this matter. It said:
“I have to improve myself. I don’t say that because I’m flawed or unworthy, but because that is what life is all about. Life is about growth and development, not stagnation.”
The piece went on to compare us to stagnant water. Water is not meant to be stagnant. It ferments and cannot be used for anything. Water is meant to be mixed with new water, not stand on it’s own, with no new influence. And herein lies the reason why we cannot ever reach a state of perfection – because it really would be a state of stagnation.
Wow. That’s a load off my mind. The state of perfection I always sought doesn’t really exist because we are meant to stay in motion. Always meeting new people. Always trying new things. Always watching our world and examining new ideas. Always getting into trouble and then facing the challenges of getting out of it. These things are the essence of life. The thing to strive for is staying in their motion. There is no perfect state, no place over the rainbow where troubles melt like lemon drops. And…the best part of this little nugget of truth? It’s good. In fact, it’s pretty awesome.
We are meant to be on a constant path of self-improvement. Life is never going to be a bowl of cherries. And, that’s alright. Life is made up of trials and triumphs and mundane days. Moving through them, constantly growing and changing as a result of them, is how we avoid the stagnation of the mind, body and spirit.
Once again, changing my thinking changes my perspective. I need to improve myself not because “I’m flawed or unworthy, but because that is what life is all about.”
And so, as another day goes by, sometimes the simplest things are right in front of us, tripping us up, showing us a new path, and….I have written.
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