“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together. “
– Brené Brown
I WAS writing this as I sat down, watching my toddler play with her Lego blocks on the little red table in our living room. The late afternoon sunlight poured through the window, catching the edges of her tiny hands as she built towers and bridges from imagination alone.
It had been quite a challenging week, I must say. My mind was heavy with work matters; a new environment, deadlines, expectations, and a list of unfinished tasks that seemed to grow longer by the hour.
Yet, in that moment, she became my unexpected teacher.
Unintentionally, my little girl managed to wipe away the worries that had been crowding my mind. She giggled as her tower collapsed, only to rebuild it moments later – no frustration, no judgment, no hesitation.
Watching her, I realised how freely children move through life. They live fully in the present. They don’t dwell on mistakes or overthink what’s next. From that simple act of playing beside her, I learned something new and deeply humbling.
It’s okay not to be okay. We don’t need to be perfect, as we were never meant to be. We don’t need to put on a tough face or hide our emotions. And we don’t need to lie about how we’re feeling.
After all, we are human – flawed, learning, and constantly evolving. And in that truth lies something beautiful. We don’t need to have it all figured out; we just need to embrace the moment, enjoy the process, and let God guide the way forward.
This reaffirmation becomes especially important at this time, as more conversations around mental health have recently surfaced across workplaces and communities.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), global levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout have risen sharply over the past few years, particularly among working parents and professionals adapting to post-pandemic changes.
And it’s not just adults who are affected – students, too, are facing increasing emotional pressures. The recent case in which a 16-year-old female student was stabbed to death by a 14-year-old boy at school has raised alarming concerns about youth mental health and the urgent need for stronger emotional support systems in schools.
Hence, the reaffirmation to accept and acknowledge how we feel is so important. This is not a sign of weakness but of courage, and a step toward loving ourselves and creating a healthier, more compassionate world.
Looking back now, I realise I had been too hard on myself. I’ve always held high expectations, especially in areas I take pride in, like public speaking and presenting. It’s something that has defined much of my professional identity.
I’ve stood on stages before thousands, delivering talks with confidence and passion. Speaking, to me, has always felt natural, until recently.
This time, I was asked to present on a topic completely outside of my comfort zone – numbers, data, conversions, and projections. The kind of material that usually makes my eyes glaze over. I accepted the challenge, determined to handle it like a champion. But as the day drew closer, something strange happened. I got nervous.
Yes, nervous despite years of experience as a communicator. My hands trembled slightly before the session began, and I found myself second-guessing slides and statistics. It was humbling, almost unsettling, to realise that even in something I considered my strength, I could still feel vulnerable.
But as I reflect now, perhaps that’s exactly what I needed – a reminder that growth doesn’t always come from what we already know. It comes from the moments that test our comfort, push our limits, and remind us that we’re still learners at heart.
Later that evening, when I watched my daughter again, rebuilding her Lego tower for the tenth time, it struck me how naturally she embraces imperfection, and how we, as parents, respond to that. When something falls apart, she doesn’t see it as failure. She simply starts again. Maybe that’s the secret to both childhood and adulthood — to keep trying, keep believing, and to laugh through the mess without worrying how others might judge or perceive you.
While it may be difficult, especially in a world that glorifies perfection and performance, it’s easy to forget that embracing imperfection can bring immense joy. And joy often comes from simplicity; from quiet moments of reflection, the sound of tiny giggles, and the lessons that come from the smallest teachers.
So this week, my toddler reminded me of something profound: we don’t have to be flawless to be fulfilled. We just have to be present.
More than ever, what we need today is honest and empathetic communication, where it allows us to say, “I’m not okay”, without fear of being judged. It’s through such conversations that healing begins, understanding deepens, and real connection grows.
And that’s the strong reminder I want to share with you: always believe in yourself. It’s okay to admit that you’re not okay. And most importantly, remember that taking care of your mental health matters more than anything else.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at Shirley.suat@gmail.com.
