Do Not Take Advice from Your Imperfections

About three weeks ago, a member of my community shared a video she recorded a long time ago with me during our session. She made this content many years ago in her dingy room, wearing no makeup and looking innocent. This young version of her talked about how her audience should just go for it, how they should implement stuff and take action.

When she talked about this video, she said “I didn't know what I was saying” but the video didn't look like she didn't. She was focused and her mouth lisped those encouraging words with passion. She probably posted that video. Or she didn't. The same way most of you refuse to show your works because you think it looks terrible. I didn't ask her.

But the most interesting thing is not the dingy room where she recorded the video, or the passion in her eyes as she encouraged her audience. It’s the fact that she made the video when her life was not figured out, when she had no clue, when she didn't know what to do with her life. When she was making lots of mistakes and blowing up chances. You wouldn't believe it if you saw the video.

“I haven't even figured shit out when I made the video” she told me. I smiled. I know that voice. It was the same voice that told her the video was not worth it. That she sounded horrible. That her life was too imperfect to encourage or inspire anyone. She obeyed that voice and abandoned the possibility of making an impact with her voice and courage.

During my session with her, I told her she missed a big opportunity to listen to the voice of courage in her head. “That advice was not for any audience, that prompt was not for content it was for you” I said to her.

I later helped to connect her dots and see the consistency in her journey. They were too vivid. Her opportunities looked alike and demanded similar gifts but the repressing voice in her head will make her dismiss it.

Purpose has no business with whether your life is figured out. Gifts resides in imperfect bodies. But it’s the biggest mistake people make. They want balance before movement, and assurance before action. They want all the resources to be on the ground before building. They want to be perfect before showing up. They want to tick all their boxes before telling their story. They want mastery before engagement. They want their lives figured out before living it.

Don’t make similar mistakes. Those struggles of yours do not invalidate your purpose. Those failures cannot swallow your prospects, gifts and potentials. Do not take counsel from your imperfections. Success is in spite of failure. Boldness is in spite of fear. Creativity is in spite of blocks. The day you will feel totally free of your imperfections will never come. Act in spite of your biggest fear.

I’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts and questions with me via email or in the comments. Have a blessed week, friend and breakthrough from within.

© Abiola Iyiola, 2025

Image: Resource Database