This morning I opened one of my daily meditation books, Affirmations for Artists by Eric Maisel and the reading was about accepting limits, realizing we can do a whole lot within them. Ouch! I realized that perfectionism is the limit that restricts me from exploring the edges of my real limits—even testing them and maybe pushing them. Perfectionism is a limit that restricts and constricts. Its greatest weapon is fear—fear of failure. That fear is fueled, supported, enforced by shame and exaggeration of the possible consequences of a mistake (which in turn includes exaggerating the importance of my actions to another and underestimates the human capacity, need and desire to forgive). For today, I’ll trust in my higher power to give me the integrity to explore my gifts bravely. And to give me the courage, should I mess up, to graciously make the appropriate amends and move on.