Life Is Messy, and That’s OK: How to Embrace Imperfection and Still Come Out Winning
I’ll never forget the time I was leading a major organizational rollout while juggling back-to-back implementation meetings, drafting communication plans, end-of-year reporting, and a last-minute crisis with a dysfunctional team member. At the same time, I was managing a full household during the holiday stress, including sick kiddos, a forgotten permission slip, date nights to keep the romance alive, and my own exhaustion.
I showed up to the Zoom call looking polished, camera-on, smile ready, and project management spreadsheet up and running. But inside?
I was fraying.
I remember hitting “end meeting,” closing my laptop, and just sitting in silence.
Not because I had the time to sit around, but because I needed to remember how to breathe.
That day, something clicked:
Holding it all together doesn’t mean doing it all perfectly.
Life, leadership, HR … all of it is MESSY!
And yet, we keep moving. We keep leading. We keep showing up!
The Myth of Having It All Together
We’ve been fed the lie that in order to succeed - especially as women, as professionals, as leaders - we need to look like we’ve got it all figured out, ALL THE TIME!
Perfect schedules. Perfect responses. Perfect appearance. Perfect control.
But here’s what no one says loud enough:
Success has NEVER required perfection.
It requires presence.
It requires flexibility.
It requires realness.
Especially in HR where we’re often holding the emotional weight of an entire organization and the people we serve - trying to be perfect is the fastest way to burn out.
So, let’s normalize the truth:
📌 You can forget a deadline and still be a great leader.
📌 You can cry in the car and still run a meeting like a pro.
📌 You can drop the ball and still pick it back up.
Why We’re Addicted to the Illusion of Control
Why? Because perfection feels safe. Trust me! I am a recovering perfectionist myself!
We think if we do it all right, nothing will fall apart. But that illusion keeps us stuck.
Because while you’re trying to get your inbox to zero and your life color-coded, you’re delaying the real work.
The impact. The leadership. The growth.
When we chase perfection:
– We hesitate.
– We hide.
– We overthink instead of act.
Meanwhile, life keeps moving. Ready or not, #lifeisintheworx!
The Magic Happens in the Mess
You don’t need to be “ready.”
You don’t need to have it all sorted.
You just need to begin.
Real growth happens in the middle of chaos, not after it’s resolved.
If your life feels messy, you’re not failing. You’re EVOLVING.
Here’s How to Embrace the Mess and Still Move Forward
1. Redefine “Together”
You don’t need to have it all together. You just need to take the next step.
🔥 Try This: Ask yourself - what’s good enough for today?
Let that be enough.
2. Name the Season You’re In
You’re not always going to be in full bloom. Sometimes you’re planting. Sometimes you’re resting.
🔥 Try This: Name your season and adjust expectations accordingly. Grace is strategy.
3. Share the Real Story
Your vulnerability is someone else’s permission slip.
🔥 Try This: Be honest with your team, your peers, even your audience. Say: “I’m figuring it out as I go.” That’s leadership.
4. Build Flexible Systems
Life won’t always follow your planner. Build systems that bend with you.
🔥 Try This: Use rolling to-do lists. Buffer your calendar. Expect disruption and plan with room to breathe.
5. Celebrate What Counts
Not everything will be a massive win. Sometimes the victory is just showing up.
🔥 Try This: Write down ONE thing you accomplished today. Keep a “done” list. Stack those small wins, because they build momentum.
The Truth: Imperfection Isn’t the Problem: Pretending You Don’t Have Any Is
I learned the hard way and I let my perfectionism get in my way.
You don’t need to be flawless to be effective.
You don’t need a perfect day to make an impact.
You don’t need to control everything to feel powerful.
You just need to show up - mess and all.
Because life is always #InTheWorx.
And so are you.
So give yourself credit.
Give yourself grace.
And keep going.
You’ve got this my friend!
#BeTheGlue #HRforHR #LifeInTheWorx #ImperfectProgress
