📖 Introduction

Many of us spend our entire lives carrying the heavy burden of parental expectations. When we desperately want to be acknowledged—especially by a parent who perhaps wished for something different—we strive to become the “perfect” child. We trap ourselves in the image of an exemplary, upright person. However, living with such impossibly high standards comes at a severe cost. We become rigid, highly critical of others, and completely intolerant of mistakes. We end up engaged in constant conflicts over trivial matters, missing out on the joy of true connection because our standards for “right and wrong” are simply too high. What happens when you finally drop the exhausting need to be perfect?

In this post, a 46-year-old woman shares a profound realization about the root of her lifelong perfectionism. After being inspired by the neat and orderly mind of a friend, she discovered how her desperate need for her father’s recognition had turned her into a harsh, stubborn judge of the world.

Read her beautiful story of self-reflection to see how discarding the heavy mold of perfectionism can open the door to a truly generous, prosperous, and happy life.

💬 Story: 🕊️ “Living the Rest of My Life Generously, Prosperously, and Happily”

By Jinhee Kim / Age 46 / Level 1

I became interested in ‘this meditation’ because I liked the neat and orderly inner world of a school friend I met after a long time. I envied her wise appearance and excellent insight as she saw through me in a short time, and when I told her I wanted to be like that too, she recommended that I try ‘this meditation’. With trust in that friend, I registered at the local center without hesitation. While doing the mind subtraction meditation with full trust, I attended the 7-night 8-day Level 1 at the Main Center.

I attended with half expectation and half curiosity, but since my mind was wide open to trying my best for 7 nights and 8 days from the first day, I sat in the very front seat, listened attentively without missing a single word from the helper, and tried to follow the guidance well.

“When I discarded all my ‘remembered thoughts of my lived life’ according to the method, I truly felt with my heart that my existence itself is the universe. Every single object in front of me is the universe, the person next to me is ultimately the same universe as me, and we are ultimately one.”

Therefore, just as I love myself, I must love the person next to me like myself. Therefore, I deeply felt and realized that whatever I give to others ultimately returns to me through this entire universe. In the end, whatever mind I harbor and use comes back to me exactly as it is.

And, as I continuously looked back on my past days to keep discarding my ‘remembered thoughts of my lived life’, I realized that in order to be acknowledged as the eldest daughter by my father who had wanted a son, I had lived doing my best to be acknowledged as the exemplary, excellent person standing in front of people that my father wanted.

“As a result, I trapped myself in the exemplary and upright image shown to others rather than my own mind, and my standard of value judgment for ‘right and wrong’ was so high that I think I made myself suffer and had a strong mind to easily criticize others.”

Because my own standards were too high, I had no tolerance for others, there were many things I didn’t like, and many things I couldn’t understand from my perspective, so I think I had many conflicts and clashes over trivial matters. Also, I saw my stubborn side and how I refused to listen to others.

I originally took a week off to come here, but feeling the excellence and necessity of ‘this meditation’ deeply, I plan to adjust my other daily schedules and put priority on completing the entire Level right away. By doing so, I hope to live the rest of my life generously, prosperously, and happily with the universe mind. Just like my usual motto, “Have few possessions but a generous existence.”

I also want to express my gratitude to the various helpers who worked hard and made efforts during the 7-night 8-day Level 1, and to the Level 1 participants who went through the difficult and arduous process alongside me. Thank you. ☺

#HalfExpectationHalfCuriosity #SelfReflection #Reflection #AcquaintanceRecommendation #Enlightenment

🌱 NEXT STEPS: Clear Your Mind Today

Are you exhausted from carrying the heavy burden of perfectionism? Has your need for parental approval made you highly critical of yourself and the people around you? You do not have to live trapped inside the image of a “flawless” person. Discard the heavy standards of your past and step into a life of genuine prosperity, tolerance, and peace.

👉 Book a Free Introductory Session at Santa Clara Meditation https://santaclarameditation.org/free-meditation-introduction