HONESTLY…WHY DOES PERFECTION HAUNT US EVEN IF IT HURTS?
Perfection is a strange thing. It’s like a shadow that’s always there, lurking behind every decision, every goal, and every Instagram post. It whispers, "You’re not enough. Keep trying." And we do. We try to perfect our bodies, our careers, our relationships, even our hobbies. But here’s the thing about chasing perfection: it’s exhausting. It’s also impossible.
I know this because perfection has haunted me for as long as I can remember. It’s in the way I approach my work, my relationships, even my idea of what my life should look like. This year, it became especially clear when I had surgery to remove my gallbladder. The physical scars that followed became a metaphor for something deeper: my need to let go of outer perfection in favor of inner health.
At first, I was horrified by the scars. They felt like a reminder that my body wasn’t flawless, that I wasn’t flawless. But over time, those scars became something else: a symbol of survival, resilience, and a very necessary wake-up call. They forced me to ask myself, "Why am I so obsessed with perfection? And at what cost?"
The answer wasn’t pretty. My fixation on getting everything right—whether it was my career as a freelancer, my personal relationships, or even the image I projected to the world—was draining me. I realized that I’d been prioritizing the wrong kind of perfection. I was so focused on appearing like I had it all together that I forgot to actually enjoy the messy, imperfect beauty of living.
What hurts about perfection is the chase. It’s relentless, exhausting, and deeply unkind. We’re constantly racing against some invisible goal that keeps moving further and further away. And yet, we keep chasing it. Why? Because we’re just imperfect beings living in a world that glorifies the unattainable.
Society tells us to "hustle harder," to "be the best," and to never settle for less. It’s as if being average is the worst possible fate. But here’s the truth: MOST OF US ARE AVERAGE. & that’s okay.
This culture of constant competition is turning us into robots who can’t accept our own humanity. We’re taught to measure our worth by our productivity, our accomplishments, and the approval of others. But the reality is, not everyone is destined for greatness, and striving for it at all costs can break us. I learned this the hard way.
I was a straight-A student, the kind of kid who always worked hard and achieved top marks. I thought those grades would translate into success as an adult. But when I stepped into the real world and started looking for jobs, I was met with rejection after rejection. Suddenly, my perfect academic record didn’t matter. My world crumbled. Everything I’d believed about myself—my abilities, my potential, my worth—was called into question. For the first time, I wasn’t enough, and I didn’t know how to deal with it.
That’s the thing about perfection: it sets us up for failure. When we tie our self-worth to being the best, we’re left shattered the moment we fall short. And we will fall short, because perfection isn’t real. It’s a mirage, a lie we’ve been sold. The sooner we stop chasing it, the sooner we can start living.
These days, I’m learning to embrace imperfection. It’s not easy—years of conditioning don’t disappear overnight. But I’ve started to find beauty in the mess, strength in the scars, and peace in the idea that I don’t have to be perfect to be happy. Life isn’t about winning the race; it’s about running it at your own pace and finding joy along the way. (I mean at least I’m trying)
And that’s why I started The Honest Blog.
This blog isn’t about perfect advice or polished takes. It’s about raw, real, and sometimes uncomfortable reflections. It’s about admitting that marriage is hard, friendships in your thirties are harder, and the job market is a nightmare. It’s about questioning the standards we’ve all silently agreed to and asking, "Does it really have to be this way?"
The Honest Blog is a space for me to share stories that matter to me—and, I hope, to you. Stories about life, love, relationships, and all the messy in-between moments. Sometimes, it’ll be personal. Other times, it’ll be brutally honest takes on the world around us. But it will always, always be real.
So, here’s my first brutally honest question for you: What’s one thing you wish you could let go of but haven’t yet? For me, it’s perfection. And while I’m still working on it, I’m learning that life is so much better when you stop trying to make it perfect and start letting it be real.
Welcome to The Honest Blog.
Let’s figure this out together.
