Love For Imperfect Things

I’m of the opinion that when we are ready to learn some lessons, things come our way to affirm this learning. As the saying goes, ‘When the student is ready, the Master appears.’ This year, as I’ve shared, is my year of Metta. A year in which I will focus on myself – a year of deeper self-acceptance and focused self-care. And to reaffirm my decision, the publishers of Love For Imperfect Things reached out to me, asking me to review this lovely book.

Love For Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection

Book Description

No one is perfect, but that shouldn’t hold us back from love-for the world, for one another, or even for ourselves. In this beautifully illustrated guide, Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim (whose name means “spontaneous wisdom”) draws on examples from his own life and on his years of helping others to introduce us to the art of self-care. When we treat ourselves with compassion, empathy, and forgiveness, we learn to treat others the same way, allowing us to connect with people on a deeper level, bounce back from failure, deal with feeling hurt or depressed, listen more attentively, express ourselves more clearly, and have the courage to pursue what really makes us happy so we can feel complete in ourselves. With more than thirty-five full-color illustrations, Love for Imperfect Things will appeal to both your eyes and your heart, offering you comfort, encouragement, and wisdom so that you can learn to love yourself, your life, and everyone in it.

The Author

Haemin Sunim is one of the most influential Zen Buddhist teachers and writers in the world. Born in South Korea and educated at Berkeley, Harvard and Princeton, he received formal monastic training in Korea and taught Buddhism at Hampshire College in Massachusetts. He has more than a million followers on Twitter and Facebook and lives in Seoul when not traveling to share his teachings. In Korea, The Things You Can See sold more than three million copies and spent 41 weeks at Number One. Love For Imperfect Things was Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller.

My review: 4.5/ 5

Even though I’ve made decisions to be nice to myself, it’s often easy to get caught up in guilt and berate myself for not completing things I’ve planned or not sticking to an agenda. I often catch myself putting myself down or taking myself to task!

True freedom is being without anxiety about imperfection.

— Sixth- century Zen master Sengchan

The struggle to be perfect causes anxiety. Something that we can do without because no one is perfect!

Another area I struggle with is wanting to constantly do things for others and putting myself last. Somewhere deep within I don’t think I’m worthy of my own care. This gentle reminder in the book made so much sense to me.

When you care for yourself first, the world begins to find you worthy of care.

Haemin Sunim

This beautifully illustrated book (I only have an ebook, but would love to get my hands on a hard copy) is full of insight and advice that we already know, but struggle to incorporate into our lives. In his gentle and meandering style, with short anecdotes, some personal, and verses, Sunim reminds us of what’s important in life.

Living in a world where social media brings us ‘perfect’ images of ‘perfect lifestyles’, it’s often hard not to compare ourselves with others. The author reminds us that perfection exists only in our imagination. While we can try to be good at things, and have good life, it’s important to make peace with who we are and not keep striving to change things all the time. To make peace with what is, is truly the secret to happiness.

Love for Imperfect Things is the kind of book you want to read slowly and keep coming back to for more insights.

I received finished copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.