Irrational Beliefs

"Since I am not perfect, I am worthless".

This irrational belief was identified by Albert Ellis a psychotherapist who developed REBT (Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy). Why is it irrational? For me the answer is for two reasons. Firstly if you use it as a yardstick then since non of us are perfect we are all worthless. A view point shared by only the most hardened of misenthropes. The other reason is that it sets you up for failure. Since you cannot be perfect, ever, as the final result you have failed.
Perfectionism is a curse. Those who strive to perfect never finish anything. It is a man made concept. Isn't nature perfect? Yet we humans seek to modify and change it, to improve on it and make it better. Of course by better we mean more conducive to our existence.
Surely it is not perfection but acceptance that each one of us should strive for, an acceptance that in our imperfection there is opportunity. The opportunity to learn to expolore to evaluate, modify and change ourselves and our relationship to this planet and our fellow inhabitants.
Forgiveness facilitates acceptance. Forgiveness that we are not perfect. Recognising that our bodies, imperfect though they are, are still the only medium through which we can experience feeling and it is only when we are feeling that we really know that we are alive, whether the tangible feeling of pain or discomfort or the more ethereal emotional pain of rejection or disappointment. Experiencing those feelings means that you are alive. Could you be any more perfect? In my view it is unlikely. Acceptance that things are the way they are is the beginning of letting go of the pain and discomfort that they can cause, accepting that perfection in the eyes of mankind is definitely not a SMART target (the striving for it). Strive to be the very best you can, and when you have reached that agreement with yourself move on. Remembering that you are a work in progress. Because life is after all and exciting adventure. It is not perfecting everything you do or say or the way you look that will make you happy. It is accepting that life is your playground. The place where you can learn anything you set your mind to, and if you do set your mind to the business of learning about life, love, people and yourself you will simply forget to try to be perfect and accept that you are beautiful.