Perfect

Alice Walker: “In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful.”

Ah, the curse of perfectionism. It manifests as a stubborn clinging to attain the best possible outcome in order to feel secure. Who are we trying to be perfect for? Do more, be more, achieve more, work-out more, drive yourself to the limit; or on the opposite side of the spectrum: why even bother to try in the first place? Perfectionism can keep you stuck in many ways. Stuck in judgement, stuck in fear, stuck in never being "good enough."

In my observation of perfectionism, it seems to be a side effect of wanting approval. Perhaps if we are perfect, (however we perceive this) we can finally take that deep breath, attain happiness, and know that others are proud of us. Maybe it's a pattern that began in childhood, through the family dynamic - then became magnified in society. Have you ever heard, "You don't need to try your best. Oh, that's ok, honey - just be happy to be mediocre." No. And if you have, well...I'd like to meet these people.

Perfectionism is a state of deranged Pitta, ayurvedically speaking. The dosha (meaning that which is quick to go out of balance) Pitta is made up of the elements FIRE and WATER. When in balance, Pitta people are goal-oriented, discerning, motivated, and natural leaders. When out of balance, they tend to be critical, bossy, sarcastic, hot tempered perfectionists. Pitta people can be hardest on themselves and this can lead to the out of balance state of perfectionism. We all have Pitta in us to a certain degree. It's important to notice when the imbalance occurs, in order to move back to a place of harmony.

How can one move back to well being? Ayurveda works with the principle of "like attracts like." So, when dealing with a particular imbalance, you would want to do the OPPOSITE of what you are currently doing. Strictly dealing with the mind and emotions, Pitta people are encouraged to meditate, express their emotions in a healthy way, be in nature, "chill out", and rest. This is easier said than done, however. When a predominating dosha manifests, it's very difficult to choose the opposite. A Pitta constitution thrives on this intensity of thought and emotion. To try and tell a PItta to relax and mediate... well, trust me, it's not going to go over smoothly.

In order to be in a state of balance, one must have the courage to change patterns that lead to disharmony. As Anna Quindlen states,"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself."

: )