Whole Again: Mindfulness and Resilience Through Kintsugi Wisdom

Growth Mindset Tip #37: Progress not Perfection for More Resilience

September 18, 2026·6 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Can doing something less than perfect actually be the better choice?That's the question behind this week's tip, number 37 in the 25 Lessons in 25 Years series. It starts with a line from Anne-Marie Bonneau, "The Zero-Waste Chef," who said back in 2019, "We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly."Michael takes that idea and runs it through a memory from 1997, when he and his wife stood in line at the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa for the first time -- supposedly the world's most perfect painting.Watching total strangers react to it in wildly different ways became proof that perfection is entirely in the eye of the beholder. From there, Michael connects the dots to his own healing journey, a Mark Twain line about continuous improvement beating delayed perfection, and why showing up "perfectly imperfect," day after day, moves you forward.You can now download my Pause Breathe Reflect App with Microdose EQ for FREE on Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Discover how to spend less time on your phone and more time on things that bring you joy. Also, find the support you need to navigate today’s uncertainty with more calm and grace.Receive a FREE copy of my book: “My Last Bad Day Shift.”We can also connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.

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