This morning, someone approached me at Starbucks and told me, “Edward, it is hard to change because, as humans, we are not perfect.” She was alluding to my last article about if we can really change the way we are.

 Let me ask you: Do you think you are not perfect? If so, what would be different if you believed otherwise? Would you take more risks, believe more in yourself and in your ability to make things happen?

 About 15 years ago, I bought a guitar with the intention of learning how to play it. Every time I visited a different country to give my seminars, I went to music stores to buy guitar instruction manuals with easy-to-play songs, especially old ballads, which are my favorites.

 I must admit that as time passed, I did not accomplish much. Other projects took precedence.  Because of that, when I pick up the guitar, instead of sounds, I create noise, and instead of harmony, the only thing left is the memory of what could have been.

 All of this came to mind because recently a friend came to my house, picked up the guitar and started playing like I have never heard before. He played ballads, bossa nova, classical music, and there wasn’t any song that I mentioned that he was not able to play…I was in awe!

 It would be absurd to say the guitar was imperfect when I was the one playing it, don’t you think? The guitar was perfect – great brand, fine wood, and sounded amazing! Then, what was the difference between my friend and me? He studied guitar. He had spent years practicing while I was busy doing other things. His priority was to play the guitar and become a master at it. It had nothing to do with the guitar being imperfect, but with my inability to play it.

 I have this belief: “You are perfect the way you are without having to change anything! There is nothing you could do to become more perfect because the word already implies you are complete.” Before someone writes to me sharing why s/he does not believe so, let me clarify something.

 Accepting that you are perfect does not necessarily mean you have a high ego or that you think you are more than anybody else. There is nothing wrong with recognizing your inner power and uniqueness, especially when you use it to contribute. You don’t have to agree with me, but I can tell you that I have been able to accomplish and contribute more when I believe I am perfect than when I think I am a broken human being like if God made a mistake with me.

 It surprises me to hear people talking about nature and everything in it as perfect (including animals) but referring to humans as imperfect. Then, what is the imperfection about your perfection that might keep you from reaching your full potential? To think you are not. This belief sometimes keeps us justifying, blaming or trying to be someone we are not.

 You are not your behaviors. You can change your behaviors

You are not your attitude. You can change your attitude.

You are not your values. You can change your values.

You are not your character. You can change your character.

You are not your beliefs. You can change your beliefs.

You are already perfect…that YOU CANNOT CHANGE.  

Your results may be imperfect, but who you are in essence is perfect.  

 Don’t be hard on yourself. You are so perfect that, when your heart beats for the first time in your mother’s womb, you didn’t have to do anything to earn it. In a way, it is not that you chose life, it is that life chose you! You are amazing. Celebrate your uniqueness and appreciate the uniqueness of others. Dream big, live fully, and above all, like I heard someone say once, “You were born original, don’t die like a photocopy.”

Edward A. Rodriguez is a coach, co-author and transformational trainer. He is founder and CEO of Better Graphics (a promotional products company) and In-Powerment! Center (an international training company for productivity and personal development). He is an NLP, HNLP, and neuro-strategy certified trainer. He has many certifications as a life and executive coach, serving clients in different countries. Edward has developed internationally known transformational programs and has co-authored books like “La Biblia de la Motivación” (“The Bible About Motivation”) and “Empowered,” which was co-written with other authors such as Wayne W. Dyer, John Assaraf (from the movie The Secret), Brian Tracy, etc. For more information, call 1-888-2-IN-POWER or write to [email protected].