Let’s Say Goodbye to Perfection

Do you ever find yourself worrying that you’re not measuring up to a yardstick of perfection? Whether we’re talking about our meditation practice or just things we want to accomplish, it can be easy to get frustrated and discouraged if we don’t hit the impossible goal of perfection. How can we take smaller steps to cultivate compassion for ourselves and others while accepting ourselves and our capacities?

Below are three ways to combat perfection and be kinder to ourselves.

Slow Down.

Doing Shamata allows us to surrender into each breath. It helps us to accept ourselves one moment at a time in our current capacity. Saying a positive affirmation such as “I’m building capacity” or “I am both the wave and the ocean” can help build ease. Remember that your essence is the same as the whole ocean and let that ground you. If you can’t start by feeling the essence of divinity that you really are, then start from the point of being part of the whole ocean. Savor the beauty and complete connectedness that is love.

Cultivate Compassion.

Tonglen can help us expand our ability to feel compassion. Entering into the meditation with that in mind creates a different experience from expecting ourselves to meditate for 20 minutes with no thoughts. If we can have a goal of simply being quiet enough and not outward facing, then we hear what our inner voice knows is right for us in our lives. This knowledge allows us to bring forth the most important thing we have to offer the world – compassion.

Ground Yourself.

We get into meditation to be better, happier people. The Buddhist view is that the best intention for meditation is that it’s for the benefit of others, not self. If we start with that yardstick and intention, we are able to ground ourselves and our intention to the whole ocean and not just our wave.

If we truly examine why we meditate, it might not be so that we can be perfect, but rather that we may have help with the challenging interactions we have with the people we love, and with building compassion and our resources.

Published on Jan 30 09 : 00 am

We’re accepting applications and nominations for the 2025-2026 Compassion in Action Fellows Program.

The Compassion in Action Fellows program is a year-long inner & outer change program that supports next-generation leaders in learning meditation practice, building community, and promoting social change.

Inspired by the path of the bodhisattva, awakened beings filled with compassion and committed to ending suffering and benefiting all life. Fellows embark upon a journey that includes personal development, community building, shared learning, and collaborative action as they transform their lives, campus, and society. 🌍

Next-generation leaders ages 18-27 in the United States and Canada who have a meditation practice and commitment to creating inner and outer change are encouraged to apply! If you know an aspiring leader interested in positively impacting the world, consider nominating them for this opportunity.

Reset & Renew

We invite you to join us for a precious opportunity to learn and immerse in foundational meditation practices in the presence of a supportive community and the beauty of the Namchak Retreat Ranch.

Over this in-person weekend retreat, you’ll learn foundational Buddhist meditation practices while enjoying the support and warmth of a like-minded community. Whether new to meditation or looking to refresh your practice, this retreat offers tools to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and resilience in your daily life. The retreat will be in-person at the Namchak Retreat Ranch: Bodhi House, in Hot Springs, Montana from Friday, April 11 – Sunday, April 13, 2025