Taking a break from 'the me who wants to be perfect'

"I have to be perfect"

"I need to be someone who can do more..."

In that way, chasing perfection and
working desperately,

feeling impatient that you have to
get better faster, and cornering yourself,don't you ever feel that way?

I was like that too.
I didn't want to be a burden to anyone,and I wanted to meet expectations.
I felt that aiming for perfectionwas the only way to protect
my pride and
the value of my work.

But I've realized something recently.

The desire to be perfect
is just the flip side of my sense of responsibilitytoward my work or
toward someone else.

That feeling of having livedwhile cherishing someone or something,
and having desperately protected it,that feeling

is like the concrete wall
of a large dam,I think.

A dam might look strong, but

to prevent it from breaking and causing a disaster,
you have to let outyour feelings little by little.

A clumsy analogy...
I'm sorry. Please bear with me.

That's right, you don't have to force yourself to let go.

"Take it easier"

"Let go of perfection"

Even if you're told that,
there are so many things you can't just do right away, aren't there?

So,
you don't have to force yourself to let go of perfection.

First,
accept both the 'me who wants to be perfect' and the 'me who is tired and wants to quit' by saying it's okay for them to be here.

But even that,
I don't think is something you can do all of a sudden.

I'm sure it's something you've been told many times before.

That's why I,
try to softly whispera certain phrase in my heart.

Whispering, 'It's only natural to feel that way'

For example...

'Why can't I even do this...'

When you feel down like that.

'It's only natural to feel that way.
You've worked so hard to do it right, after all.'

Even when you feel anxious, thinking, 'I have to do better.'

'It's only natural to feel that way.
It just shows how much you care about it.'

Just that.

Aiming for perfection,
and feeling anxious—neither is strange.In fact, it's only natural,
and by acknowledging that,
you give yourself permission to feel that way.

Just doing that creates a little bit of space in your heart.

Embracing both is what this is all about

"Let's embrace both sides."

When I say that,

it might sound like a big deal.

Like, there she goes again...

Yeah, that's impossible.

But deep down,
I think you also knowthat there is a part of you that wants to change.
Today,I hope you can
adopt a way of thinking
that makes you feel a little more at ease.

Without blaming yourself for needing perfection,
and without blaming yourself for what you can't do,simply saying to yourself, "It's only natural to feel that way,"
is, I believe,
the first step toward embracing your feelings.

You don't have to force yourself to make peace.
You don't have to force yourself to like it.

First, just acknowledge that it's okay for both feelings to exist.

That is surely
the beginning of making choices that feel lighter.

If you can feel at ease,
the people around you will be healed, too.You might even be able to
bring a little smile to someone who loves you dearly.

I am rooting for you today, too.

The you who aims for perfection,
and the you who gets tired and stops in your tracks,both are the precious you.

So, today,
please tell yourself, "It's only natural to feel that way."

With just those words, you should be able to feel a little better.

A happy announcement in the postscript

Everyone, thank you for adding this to your magazine.
Thank you so much.I can feel your warmth!

Hiiro-san

Kametaro-san

YeKu-san

Lemon🍋-san

Melto-san

Gomashiso🍅-san(I forgot to add '-san' until just now, I'm so sorry💦 I hope you didn't see it)