Do you ever feel like you’re trying to live up to some impossible version of yourself? Like there’s this invisible checklist of what makes a woman “perfect,” and somehow, you’re always falling short? Whether it’s the pressure to excel at work, have a spotless home, be in perfect shape, or just look effortlessly put together all the time— it can feel like a never-ending balancing act.
But the truth is the idea of the “perfect woman” is one giant myth. And let’s be honest, aren’t we tired of pretending???
WHO decided what “perfect” even means?
The Myth of the Perfect Woman
Let’s talk about this idea of the “perfect woman.” We all know her: amazing-looking, always happy, the perfect wife or mother, everything in her life is great & she takes care of everyone in her life!! TV soaps have indeed created this notion of the perfect woman & society at large measures by that standard to the extent of comparison between fictional characters!!
Well, here’s a reality: she’s not real. Or if she is, there’s probably a lot of stress behind the scenes that we don’t see.
It’s perfectly ok to want to improve oneself. All of us want to grow and be better. But when you start feeling bad about not being “perfect,” that’s where the problem is. I’m sure that you’ve had so many moments when you felt like you weren’t good enough because you weren’t as “successful” as others, or your child was unruly or your house was untidy.
Why weren’t you put together like others? You kept fretting to the point of being stressed out!
People need to realize that those women they truly admire aren’t flawless. They have failed many times in their personal or professional life. They had their grumpy days, they messed up chores, and they didn’t always laugh. And you know what? They are still amazing.
So why are you expecting perfection from yourself?
The Moment You Let Go-or At Least Tried To
The fever of being perfect does not go away very easily. There are times, however, when one realizes that it is not worth holding on to. Imagine a day when everything that could go wrong actually does. The deadlines are missed, the inbox is overloaded, an important document is misplaced, children miss their assignments, and the pet vaccination is missed. For many women who always seek perfection by societal standards, this would be like that’s the end of the world, but it’s not.
But instead, what is there is no panic at all; instead, there is laughter-realization that one does not become less worthy because of being messy!
The realization that it is okay to not be perfect. Mistakes and imperfections do not make one lesser; actually, they define us as individuals. In other words, perfection is not synonymous with growth; authenticity and acceptance do matter.
Society’s Role: Are We Still Stuck?
But even now, I think, with that change in mindset, those pressures are still there. There is still so much on a woman’s shoulders-being perfect as a partner, as a parent, at your job-and looking effortlessly good while doing it. It’s an exhausting expectation.
This isn’t a one-time thing. Many people face similar pressures from society, like quickly losing baby weight or feeling guilty for not cooking every day. But it’s possible to reject these unrealistic expectations.
Social media influencers still model impossible ideals, however, there is also a growing trend amongst women to let imperfections show. Remember the toothpaste ad that once used to promote straightly aligned teeth is now speaking about uneven tooth alignment. More and more are walking away from the façade, embracing their authentic, unvarnished selves.
The Balance: What About Self-Improvement?
This isn’t to say that self-improvement should be abandoned. One must find a balance. Working on oneself for personal fulfilment, not for any external validation, is important. Setting goals because they make one happy, versus setting goals simply because they will look great to others, are where true growth occurs.
It is about enjoying the process and feeling good about progress, not perfection. Some days, one can do great in work; other days might be spent lying on the couch in your pyjamas, eating junk food all day. And that is OK. Personal worth isn’t about accomplishments or looks, this greatly enhances the quality of living.
So, What’s Next?
It is not that simple to get rid of that feeling of being a “perfect person.” It is something that has been embedded in the brain for many years. But that can actually be one that people move beyond. Embracing reality rather than perfection can be so much better. Being real is so much more liberating and rewarding.
Next time that urges to be perfect rises, it’s worth asking: For whom is it? Does anyone care about the small imperfections? Likely not.
Accept chaos, vulnerability, imperfections, and magnificence in simply being one’s true self. Life is too short to misuse on pretending perfection. Join the new age platform Searching Soulmate created for urban life & simply be you…
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