Fortunately, we no longer live in the age where we physically need to fight each other for survival (for the most part). Even though the physical armour has been removed, we've put on a more powerful shield. This shield is our false self, a detached self that no one can harm, a self which is efficient at work and gets things done, a self when criticized does not care, a self who hides its own weaknesses and feigns perfection.
Strength. Beauty. Perfection. Truth.
Can all four co-exist?
Let's start with the last one: Truth. What is truth? Simply, truth is something that is real - fact - whatever is true. When someone speaks the truth, it is when they are honest with others, moreover, honest with themselves. Sometimes, it's easier to be honest with another person than it is to be honest with yourself. Savage Garden once sang: "animals and children tell the truth; they never lie". I think the reason that they can do so, is that they don't have much to prove and they don't have a story they need to cling onto. Truth is as important as the person with whom its shared. You don't share your life story with any person - especially people who have not earned the rights to hear your story (Brene Brown).
Perfectionism. The biggest untruth. We are often told that no one is perfect, and yet people get judged harshly. Or, the other extreme: no one is perfect, and people justify their faults to the nth degree. "So what if I have a bad temper? I was born this way!" The problem with being a perfectionist, is that there is little to no room for error or fault - in other words, no room for improvement. There is also a sense of lack of awareness, distrust, and lack in self confidence. When you are a perfectionist, the word in itself, starts to blind you from your own faults, because you are "perfect". All the faults lie with the OTHER person. When you are a perfectionist, there's also a degree of distrust in the other person. You are unwilling, and not comfortable enough to let the other person see your faults. The fear of judgement gnaws at your own self-awareness and your own confidence.
If we all were perfect, I wonder what the world would be like to live in. The funny thing about beauty is that it does not necessarily lie in perfection. Dimples, for example, is considered a characteristic of a beautiful person, but it is actually a genetic defect that is caused by shortened facial muscles*.
Beauty has also been said to be in the eye of the beholder. As an Enlightened Warrior, you learn that everything anyone says or sees, is a projection of themselves. If the beholder can appreciate beauty, it means that beauty exists in them, as well as the object of their observation. John Legend sings about his love and her "perfect imperfection". It's such a touching line. When you truly love someone, you are willing to embrace all of them - their strengths and their weaknesses. It almost goes to say, that when you're willing to accept someone else's flaws, you can then begin to be merciful to yourself, and accept your own shortcomings.
Strength. Self acceptance and self approval is an understated strength. When you can wholly accept yourself, it would make it so much easier to be kinder to yourself. Self confidence comes from self approval. A person's strength lies not in using their own strengths to attack another person's weaknesses. A person's true strength lies in his or her ability to use their strengths and also inspire another to draw on their strengths and be a better person.
Our false self although in the short term can assist in getting things done, in the long term it cannot serve us. In the long term, as we carry the weight of our other, projected self, we project a wall, where others cannot enter and we cannot exit. We can no longer connect with others on a deeper level, and more so, ourselves. That is the pain of our false self - disconnection and division. The illusion of perfection.
When you are willing to accept truth about your weaknesses, you are willing to forgo the impression of perfection, but strive to be a better person in spite of your faults; when you are willing to see the beauty in your imperfections, you will find strength in the truth of your soul. Peace and love are waiting to enter your heart.
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