Perfect Right Now
Adrienne Martin
Two summers ago, I had one of those ‘a-ha’ moments. It was August and this message came to me, “What if, Adrienne, you are perfect as you are, right now, in this very moment. What if we are ALL perfect as we are right now?”
Well that idea blew away every single one of my previous beliefs and thoughts. BUT, I bought into it and spent an entire bliss-filled week living this truth. I felt lighter and happier than I ever had before. A friend told me, “You look different, better.” A complete sense of peace and wonder filled my body, mind and spirit. And it felt like I was happy for no real reason at all, as I had always relied on external stimulus to give me a feeling of happiness.
But it was fleeting. Within a week, I began to question everything and even wanted to speed up the process by trying harder at this peace and bliss, thinking I could perfect it and make it become even better. I also began to think that I was completely delusional and silly.
I now know that this was my ego struggling to stay alive. Who am I without all those past beliefs and ties? Who am I if I am not always trying to lose 20 pounds? Who am I if I am not worried about what people think? How can I be perfect, how can right now be perfect, if I am not skinny, rich and going, doing and achieving constantly?
The ego identifies with outside sources which feeds its “life.” So when we are stuck in our story, our beliefs and our attachments, we look to outside stimulus to make us whole. For me it has always been food, a boozy beverage and approval from men that make me feel whole and happy.
When I had this a-ha moment, it was like all that slipped away effortlessly. I ate when I was hungry and easily picked light, nutrient-rich foods. I was not emotionally hungry at all. I felt very creative and idea after idea came to me, many of which manifested with ease. I was very present and in the moment. And for the first time in my life I was not trying to achieve anything or beating myself up for everything (which in my life has included, believe it or not, breathing).
I long for this blissful feeling to return. These days I focus on not trying so hard. I work on finding peace in small moments of time and being truly grateful for all I have. I feel as though my body and mind need to catch up to where my spirit is, where my true being lies. My spiritual teacher told me recently, “The body is dense and your true spirit has a very high vibration so it takes time to infuse this high vibration into the reality of your physical being.”
So I am learning patience (not my strong suit) and enjoying the journey, the now. The more I do that, amazingly, the more rich my life becomes.
So what I would like to pose to you is this: What if you are perfect as you are right now? Because here is the truth. You are. You are a beautiful, wonderful being put on this earth to be nothing but happy and content. While it may be true that you feel there is more for you on your path, trust that it will come. There is so much action in non-action. I know that this contradicts EVERYTHING that we are told in our society but it is true.
Love yourself, bask in your perfectly imperfect life, look at the world in wonder, listen with full ears and a full heart, focus on the abundance that is all around you and slowly but surely, watch the magic unfold.
Adrienne Martin is a licensed acupuncturist and health and wellness educator in the Greater Boston area. For more information, visit www.adriennemartin.com.
23 Comments
This is such good food for thought. My goal for this year is to ease up on myself, so I appreciate you sharing your insights! Thank you!
This is wonderful. It is one of the best blog’s I have read. Thank you
Keri
Beautiful! I try to think to myself that I am perfect as I am in the process of change and elightenment. To enjoy where I am in the process, but to strive for personal development.
This is my favorite post – ever.
Thank You
“The body is dense and your true spirit has a very high vibration so it takes time to infuse this high vibration into the reality of your physical being.” I love that! I have been on a journey of healing a chronic blood disorder and within the last six months my spirit has come alive in a way I could have never imagined. I recognize who I am which is true love and truely perfect. I can’t wait for my body to get in sync. Thank you!
Thank you.
Every person has characteristics that cannot be changed. They are inherent. I believe that those should be accepted and respected as part of who you are. If that is your definition of ‘perfect’, then I agree.
There are also areas in people’s lives that CAN be changed and improved. If a person sees himself as perfect he may not be proactive enough to have the courage to progress and grow as an individual. Defining something as perfect, to me, implies that it is static and does not need to improve. In fact, it can only get worse! I would not want to see myself this way.
Think about the Serenity Prayer and let that guide you through life.
Great post! Just what I needed to hear this morning. Thanks!
So glad you got to share this story. What a beautiful message, we all need a little reminder that we are “perfect right now!” Many blessings! <3
I was already in a good mood today, but this just lifted me up even more! Thank you for that :) I think I’ll print it out and hang it for me to read often. Simply beautiful.
I started this day reading Kris’s comment on my blog! I was so happy and my ego was soaring. I’m so glad that this was the very next thing I read. Your insights have set me on the right path for the day. I especially love “The body is dense” quotation. Thank you for sharing your teacher’s insights as well. Thank you, thank you.
Jennifer
What a wonderfully inspiring post! This could not have come at a better time. I think in general, as women we are our harshest crictic’s. If we could all adopt your mantra of “We are perfect right at this very moment”, I think we would be shocked to find the “magic that unfolds”. Of course, easier said then done somedays. But your post has reminded me to repeat this message to myself :) Thank You for that! xoxo
Great message Adrienne! Finding bliss in the present is hard, but something worth trying to achieve! Thanks for the reminder that we are perfect right now, the way we are ; )
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
With tears in my eyes, I say thank you. There is just something so magical about hearing others tell us that we are beautiful, wonderful and simply put, perfect. You have boosted my confidence 10 fold! Oh, and by the way, you are beautiful, wonderful and perfect as well :)
Thank you! Wow I really needed this today! Very honest and well stated! I’m going to try this for as many days as I can also.
I just wanted to pop in and let everyone know how much their comments meant to me! Thank you all so much. I am so glad everyone enjoyed this article!
Adrienne,
I truly enjoyed reading your post. I could feel that you are in this place as I’m feeling love & gratitude for my “perfectly imperfect life” just from reading what you have written. Thank you and I wish you many more!
Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Wow. Needed to hear this. Thank you so much for sharing.
What an incredible article Adrienne – one of the best things I’ve ever read online. Thank you for this thoughtful and honest share.
Coincidently, I experienced the same bliss and happiness as you did, after starting to practice gratitude. I found myself slipping after a while and did not understand why. Your insight about the ego struggling to keep itself alive was an a-ha moment for me. Thank you so much.
As I read this, I kept thinking, “She is so brave to allow herself to go there!” It’s an idea I’ve tried to embrace for years, but have trouble actually letting go and doing it. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful story.
January 27, 2010