Hi, I’m a Health Coach and I’m not Perfect.
Whenever someone sees a professional in any field, it is assumed that the professional knows everything about that field and is well, perfect in that area. For example, when we think of scientist or doctors, we often think of these people as extremely knowledgeable and almost expect them to know everything about science or medicine.
The same goes for those who are pastors, leaders in business organizations, or even health and wellness professionals. Society sees them as all knowing and expects them to continue to be all knowing, or in actuality, perfect in that field.
However, I hate to break it to us all, that there is no way any human can be all knowing or perfect. We are not God, nor can we think or accomplish what He can. We cannot accomplish our entire to-do-list in one day, nor can we always come up with solutions to problems quickly and efficiently. Perfection is not something we can call our own, now or ever.
My struggle with perfection
You see, I’m a Health Coach who helps individuals learn to lead healthy and balanced lives, in any and every area of their lives. Whether it be in managing their work-life balance, appropriately managing stress, or learning how to eat when hungry and not out of emotions, I work to see individuals empowered to live healthy lives. From clients and friends alike, I often get nutritional or fitness questions because people now know that I’m a health and wellness professional and assume I know the answer. People also often look at what I eat or how often I workout and praise me for it.
But what they fail to see, is that I am in no way perfect. I don’t always know why someone shouldn’t or shouldn’t eat legumes, or what’s the differences between the Ketogentic and Paleo diet. I personally don’t always eat well or manage stress effectively all the time, nor do I always stop myself from eating out of emotions. I don’t always take rest when I need it or make space for relationships when my soul craves it. I like everyone else out there, am not perfect.
And if I’m honest, as much as I want to embrace my imperfections, I more often than not hate my imperfections.
I hate the fact that I can’t be perfect. I hate the fact that I have weaknesses I can never escape and mistakes that I will make. I want to know it all and want to always have an answer. I want to be right, I want to never fail. I want to eat right always. I want to manage stress well and have a balanced life, always.
But, I can’t. And it isn’t until I have that breaking point and come back to that realization once again, that I begin to see that imperfection is not weakness, but it is strength.
The strength in imperfection
It is strength because it is in my moment of weaknesses and feeling of powerlessness that I finally let go and let God do His thing. It is in my imperfection that God is allowed to move in any circumstance and show me that the grace He has for me is sufficient for every and any circumstance. It is in my failure I see that I am more than what I do or how I think, but that I am loved by God and those around me.
It is only through imperfection that I have come to know that I shouldn’t strive to be perfect, but should strive to do the best I can and trust that the One who created me will work everything out for my good and His good.
If you are reading this, and too struggle with perfection, I want to release you right now from that burden. It isn’t yours to bear. Yes, you are called to live a life of love, purpose, and perseverance but were never called to live a life of perfection.
Decide to change
Make a decision today that instead of trying to be the perfect child, spouse, or leader, that you will work your hardest to do and be the best person you can be and when you feel like you fall short, to embrace both the imperfection and grace to continue forward.
I stand with you today and decide that no longer will I strive for perfection personally or as a health professional, but will strive to also live a life with weaknesses yes, but a life that is anchored in the love, grace, strength and power of the God who created me.
Hi, I’m health coach, wife, daughter, accountant and friend….and I’m not perfect and that’s okay.
