Wholeness, Not Perfection: A Jungian Take on Growth

Wholeness, Not Perfection: A Jungian Take on Growth

Perfection tells us to polish every flaw. Wholeness tells us to gather every part.

The Tyranny of Perfection

Perfection is rigid, external, and exhausting. It says: You are only enough when flawless.

The Invitation to Wholeness

Wholeness is flexible, internal, and liberating. It says: All of you belongs — the polished and the messy, the certain and the lost.

How to Practice Wholeness

  • Welcome contradictions: strength and vulnerability can coexist.
  • Befriend mistakes: they are evidence of living, not proof of failure.
  • Use integration, not elimination: healing is weaving, not erasing.

Key Takeaway

Growth is not about becoming perfect. It’s about becoming whole — and that is always enough.

Rise: A Practical Guide to Emotion Regulation

Sign up for Dr. Shahrzad Jalali’s newsletter and receive RISE, a powerful, research-backed PDF designed to help you regulate your emotions, calm your nervous system, and restore balance.

Dr. Shahrzad Jalali