It sometimes feels like I am living and sending mixed messages as I navigate the adventure of being human.  On the one hand, I believe that we are created perfect and embody the ultimate reality of a loving universe.  On the other hand, I advocate and facilitate an agenda of personal growth, aspiring to a future that is better than today.  Don't these views conflict? I have struggled on and off with that question over the years. 

 The best answer for me is found in the observation by physicist  Neils Bohr: "The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth."I find unique insight where two incompatible possibilities appear to conflict.  But maybe they don't.

 When it comes to the human condition, I agree with T. A. Harris that I'm OK, You're OK just the way we are.  Accepting, loving, and feeling compassion for ourselves bolster emotional health.  Self-criticism, self-rejection, and (at the extreme) self-hatred shut us down and stand in the way of meaningful, productive, and connected lives. Why, then, embrace the effort to grow and change?  Why develop a vision of "better" and build a path that takes us there? 

 A key answer to that question surfaced as I was digging around inside. I find that, on some level, I am wired for self-improvement.  Perhaps the urge to grow is a mental and spiritual complement to biological evolution.  Both our bodies and our spirits respond to the environment with adaptive change. Buddhists encourage the development of skillfulness.  The Bible recounts that even Jesus grew in wisdom and grace.  Secular seekers aspire to becoming healthier, happier, more effective and aligned.

 We are worthy just the way we are.  We are not intrinsically flawed.  Still, we are inspired to grow in ways that enhance both inner peace and connections with others.