Transcript

Content Warning: The poem in the intro uses hyperbolic rhetoric figures and irony. They do not reflect the author's beliefs.

Perfection is a hundred puppies in a cuddle pile.

Perfection is a row of identical cupcakes ready to eat.

Perfection is the meticulously cropped Instagram photo that hides the story of the place it was taken.

Perfection is racist messages in advertising.

Perfection is white teeth and a sculpted body.

Perfection is a diamond ring for the proposal at the beach in Bali.

Perfection is getting up at 5 am to work out and meditate.

Perfection is having an app that tells you how productive you are.

Or is it?

I'm not perfect, but I do not perfect really well.

Welcome to a quick pause. A weekly podcast offering a moment of reflection, a chance to care for ourselves and to show up for each other.

Each week I'll give you an inspiration and a practice to try.

So, who sets the standard for perfection?

What gives them the power to set that standard?

And why should we strive for perfection in the first place?

What gets lost when we achieve it?

This week, I invite you to embrace the imperfect.

What are you doing imperfectly? Why are you doing it?

What imperfect pursuit can you cultivate? Or, where can you reset the expectations you have for yourself - and find some space to breathe?

Find joy in being good enough. I find purpose in doing something because it feels right.

I'm not perfect, but I do not perfect really well.

That's it. If you want to dive deeper, take out your notebook and write down whatever comes to mind when you think about perfection and what it means to you.

Thank you for coming on this journey with me.

Now, go on and embrace being not perfect.

Until next week,

I'm Jonas Haefele and this was a Quick Pause.