Comments on: Book Review: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

By: Kristy

Kristy — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:14:20 +0000

Pick Me! Ummm, every day I beat myself up because I didn't get enough done. My house is never perfect. My hair isn't. My kids certainly aren't. I was thinking about this today though…really why does it matter? To present myself to the world as something perfect? Because then I would just be the hated perfect one…ha ha! Anyway, the quest holds me back I think. I spend a lot of energy on it when I could spend energy on actually getting things accomplished!

By: Annie

Annie — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 05:02:54 +0000

#7 "Cultivating Play and Rest: Letting Go of Exhaustion as a Status Symbol and Productivity as Self-Worth"
I am dying to read this chapter because exhaustion and productivity are what I feel is part of the cultural expectation at home, in church and in the workplace. That if you are not totally wiped out, then obviously you are not doing enough. So wrong!

By: Shana

Shana — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 01:13:34 +0000

I have been working on letting go of the things I should me doing/thinking/saying/feeling and embracing the things I am able to do/think/say/feel and really looking at the reasons behind why I do/think/say/feel these things…this book would be a perfect side dish to the message I'm trying to learn!

By: Sarah Jean

Sarah Jean — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 19:52:57 +0000

I love this! Perfection has made me miss out on a lot of opportunities…Bye bye Miss Perfect…Hello Miss Possibility!!

By: Relyn Lawson

Relyn Lawson — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 18:10:09 +0000

First, Pick me! Pick me!! I love thinking about these things. I do.

OK, now on to your question.

Hmmmmm… What a great thing to ponder. What role does perfection play in your life? Well, my guiding quote at work is by Ansel Adams. He says, "I strive for perfection and settle for excellence." Yes! My heart screams yes – strive for perfection, settle for nothing less than excellence. In my personal life, it's a bit different. There, it's all about relationships and who defines perfection anyway? In my personal life, it's about love. Every minute, every day. All about love and connection. Love, love, love. Which, I guess, is really a perfection of it's own. Isn't it?

By: Rae

Rae — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:40:10 +0000

Ironic–I've just finished several weeks of therapy over this same issue!! And my "graduating" therapy was when I said "I actually BELIEVE that my value doesn't change, based on what I do"….I'm still who I am–a daughter of God–no matter what I do, or no matter what I DON'T do.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:09:28 +0000

I remember what a life changer it was for me when I adjusted from thinking "Look at all the cleaning (playing with the kids/reading/crafting) I didn't get to today." to "I had one hour to spend cleaning (etc) and I really did well with that one hour" or "I wasted a lot of that hour and could do better next time." Regardless of if I "finished" or not.

By: L.T. Elliot

L.T. Elliot — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 04:01:03 +0000

That paragraph hit me pretty strong just now. I need to be able to tell myself that. I need to be happy with me–no matter how much I don't get done as fast as I'd like.

*hugs* Hope you're feeling a bit better by now.

By: Alyson | New England Living

Alyson | New England Living — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 01:48:10 +0000

Sounds totally and completely up my alley! I think every single night I go to sleep thinking I didn't do enough. It really starts to wear on you after awhile and makes it harder to improve. Thanks for this recommendation!

By: rachel

rachel — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:01:05 +0000

I think that, if I don't win, I'll find this book. So much of what you wrote in your review struck a chord with me.

I can't even elaborate at the moment; it's too tough. Needless to say, I'm weary. I'd love to be done trying to be perfect, at least for this life.