Close your eyes and stop the buzz,
The constant inner chatter.
Though your mind is doing its best to help,
It's now time for your thoughts to scatter.
Nighttime is that sacred time,
A chance to pause and rest.
We all need a break from the give and take,
A block of hours away from the stress.
Even when we love our lives,
The task list can be a tsunami,
An overpowering cascade of to-do's that batters both mind and body.
What's more,
We have expectations,
Strict requirements for perfect completion.
Little do we know we're chasing a myth,
Harming ourselves for no reason.
Perfection is a room with no door,
A cold,
Unreachable place.
We spend years of our lives seeking it out,
To then be humbled when efforts go to waste.
Nothing in life can be perfect when each eye has its own view.
There is no ideal to suit every mind,
And no perception that's truly true.
We end up driving ourselves crazy as we chase what we think others want,
But just like us,
They're racing in circles,
Paying no mind to what we are or are not.
Things can feel so heavy at times,
Like the world will stop if we fail,
But failure is as unmeasurable as everything else,
So it's useless to allow fear to prevail.
Instead,
We need to change our view,
To decide on our own kind of perfection.
It needn't make sense to anyone else,
A bit like looking at your own reflection.
Breathe in,
And see yourself as only you can.
Your strengths,
Your quirks,
Your magic.
Breathe out,
And set that essence free,
And let the world know who you really are.
What might you do if you wouldn't be judged?
If no one waited to rate your performance,
Would you find a new passion or take a new risk,
Or perhaps reassess your importance?
The truth is,
You can do those things.
You can chart a new path right this minute,
For the eyes you feel upon you all the time only exists when the mind overruns your spirit.
The world can be hostile,
That's for certain.
Freedom is the antidote to perfection,
The path to your own ideal world.
You can create your own utopia when you let your anxieties unfurl,
Though it's hard to know where they come from.
These fears show up in us all.
We want to fit in,
To feel worthy and admired,
But instead we end up scared and small.
It seems so counterintuitive to go against the grain,
To throw out years of effort and worry in an attempt to relieve the pain.
But that's exactly what it takes to find your own perfection,
Adjust the bar to fit you best,
And set out in your own direction.
Your life is indeed a marathon,
But in truth,
There's just one runner.
You are forever poised to take the prize when you're racing to steal your own thunder.
You are your only competition.
You're also your very best fan.
You have nothing to prove to anyone but you,
And you're the only one in charge of the plan.
Inhale,
And think about what it means to be the person in charge of you.
Exhale,
And know you're ready,
That you can make your dreams come true.
Things can be different from here on out,
All the patterns can be changed.
You just have to agree to stop the chase,
To let expectations be rearranged.
Imagine how liberating it will feel to step out of judgment's way.
Each day can be measured with your heart's ruler,
With no fear to lead you astray.
You may even inspire others.
Once you decide to take the lead,
You might start a revolution,
As others watch how you succeed.
Success is fully in your reach when the focus is on you,
So put on your blinders and set your pace.
The time for worry is through.
Run like the wind,
Toward what you desire.
See the target in your mind.
Know that the race will be messy and tough,
But you'll have earned.
What do you find once you reach the finish line?
Set a new one in the distance.
Instead of chasing the impossible,
Celebrate your own persistence.
Let a smile settle in your heart as you imagine your triumph.
Feel the peace of accomplishment,
The joy of being self-reliant.
Now drift off to sleep,
Wrapped in that joy,
And know that good things await,
For you are the captain of your own team,
The master of your fate.
Namaste,
Beautiful.
