“A beautiful thing is never perfect.” -Proverb

The vintage couch pillows that don’t even slightly match. The homemade scarf that’s a little too long and yet just the right size. The worn T-shirt that looks like trash but bears too much nostalgia to toss. The hand-made card depicting a child’s version of a happy family–not even slightly realistic and yet precise in all the right ways.

Imperfect beauty surrounds us, and without realizing it, we also own it. With our diverse colors, shapes, sizes, and smiles; in our varying tastes, skills, perceptions, and quirks.

All those little things that make us completely different despite our universal sameness endow us with a beauty we’d never choose to lose if only we could recognize it. That seems to be the hard part: realizing that because the paintings of our lives are a few strokes away from perfect we are so undeniably beautiful.

The things we see as flaws are often just a reminder we are whole and wholly unique.

If you choose to do something to improve yourself today, which in itself is a positive thing, remember: you have a lot less to change than you think.

“Growth begins when we begin to accept our weaknesses.” -Jean Vanier

Weakness isn’t a sign of inferiority; it’s a sign of humanity. No one is without weaknesses, and everyone makes mistakes as they learn where they excel and where they have room to grow.

The important thing to remember is that we will keep growing as long as we keep making that choice; and the best part is there’s no limit to how many strengths we can cultivate.

Today if you struggle a little, personally, socially, or professionally, know that it isn’t a setback. It’s an opportunity to unlock your greatest potential.

“Our strength grows out of our weaknesses.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Someone who only acknowledges their strengths misses out on the opportunity to multiply them. Every time you identify a weakness, you have a chance to transform it. To seek out ways to improve and challenge yourself.

In this way it’s almost more valuable to acknowledge where you’re weak. When you identify something you don’t do well, you:

• Challenge your ego for the sake of excellence–which is more a process than a destination.
• Identify areas that require your attention for long-term growth.
• Give yourself a chance to leverage your current weaknesses while improving them for the future.

Everyone has weaknesses, whether it’s acting on emotions, managing time poorly, thinking negatively, or getting distracted too easily. Acknowledging them gives you the chance to get strong. How can you get strong today?

“It is much more valuable to look for the strength in others. You can gain nothing by criticizing their imperfections.” -Daisaku Ikeda

We are all flawed. From the weakest person you know to the strongest, everyone has some area where they can improve. You can focus on people’s weaknesses, finding reasons to pull them down; or highlight their strengths, motivating them to rise up. Odds are the choice you make says a lot about how you treat yourself.

When you believe in someone you bring out the best in them. You remind them it’s OK to be imperfect; that they can still make a difference in the world even if they struggle sometimes. You motivate them to focus on what they have to offer, instead of dwelling on all the ways they may fail. Deep down, we all want that for ourselves.

We’re all a little scared and a little unsure. We’re also all powerful beyond belief. You decide where to put your focus. You decide whether to show people support and appreciation or disappointment and judgment. You decide what to inspire in people.

Whose strengths will you see today?

“An obstacle may be either a stepping stone or a stumbling block.” -Unknown

Some people seem to have every advantage in life, whereas others have to work a little harder to get from a to b. No matter how things may look from the outside, everyone deals with obstacles.

Loved ones get sick. Relationships change. Finances get tight. Work gets slow. No one is immune to these ebbs and flows.

What defines you as a person is how you deal with life’s hurdles–whether you fall down or keep going, determined to get stronger.

If you face an obstacle today, ask yourself: what kind of person am I?