Quote Of The Day By Reese Witherspoon: 'I Don't Believe In Perfection...'

Reese Witherspoon is Hollywood's sweetheart. Born on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Witherspoon soon moved with her family to Hesse, Germany, as her father was serving as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army reserves. The Witherspoon family later moved back to the United States, and Witherspoon started modeling as a child, getting roles in commercials. This led to her acting debut at 14, when Witherspoon landed a role in the 1991 film "The Man in the Moon." Later, she dropped out of Stanford University to accept two more film roles, one in the 1996 movie "Fear" and another in the 1996 movie "Freeway." 

Things exploded for Witherspoon when she took on the role of Elle Woods in the iconic 2001 film "Legally Blonde." Following this, Witherspoon's career took off, and she later won an Oscar for her portrayal of June Carter in "Walk the Line" in 2005. She went on to become a producer, launching her production company Hello Sunshine in 2016. She also created a hugely popular book club called Reese's Book Club because of her tremendous love of reading. So when bibliophiles ask if Witherspoon really reads all of her Reese's Book Club picks, the answer is yes. But things haven't always been easy for Witherspoon; she's weathered two divorces and much pushback in Hollywood, and that's why Reese Witherspoon is today's quote of the day. 

Reese Witherspoon famously once said, "I don't believe in perfection. I don't think there is such a thing. But the energy of wanting things to be great is a perfectionist energy," according to People. The quote became a motivational mantra for many online, as Witherspoon addresses that delicate balance between wanting things to be perfect but still shooting for the stars. 

Witherspoon's quote is actually a very useful one. The "Legally Blonde" star addresses the struggle of perfectionism, a trait that's defined by impossibly high standards, exacting self-scrutiny, and an unrealistic expectation of flawless outcomes. According to Psychology Today, perfectionism can lead to intense internal pressure that can be harmful for a person when taken to the extreme. It can exacerbate anxiety and lead to inactivity out of a fear of failure. So Witherspoon's willingness to address the phantom of perfection is a hugely helpful tip.

Reese Witherspoon's quote on the lure of perfection is an encouragement to women. In her quote, Witherspoon takes perfection off of its pedestal and replaces it with a healthy dose of reality: perfection does not exist. In that much more accepting mindset, Witherspoon then reminds fans that what is okay is "the energy of wanting things to be great." It's all about perspective. Inhabiting a mindset that's infused with optimism, hope, and resiliency is a healthy one. Instead of fretting over "What if things don't work out?" think instead, "What if they do?" 

While Witherspoon's success might make her an unlikely source for someone talking about accepting imperfection, the Hollywood star has navigated her own failures and tribulations. She went through two divorces, one from her first ex-husband, Ryan Phillippe, and one from Jim Toth. This is likely why there are so many great, but heartbreaking reads from Reese's Book Club. After realizing that Hollywood wasn't creating complex roles for older women, Witherspoon created her own production company, Hello Sunshine. Instead of waiting for perfection, Witherspoon showed resiliency and creativity by surviving heartbreak and loss, and by fixing a serious problem in Hollywood. Plus, the sweetheart of Hollywood is full of sage wisdom; Witherspoon's career advice for young women to chase their talents is a dose of tough love. So this quote of the day from Witherspoon is applicable for everyone. Instead of complaining that things aren't perfect, harness optimism and creativity to make things as good as they can be. 

• "Life isn't about perfection. There is no rule book. Life has many different chapters, and every chapter deserves celebrating."
• "If something seems frightening or horrible, I should probably do it."
• "All those things that you're worried about are not important. You're going to be OK. Better than OK. You're going to be great. Spend less time tearing yourself apart, worrying if you're good enough. You are good enough. And you're going to meet amazing people in your life who will help you and love you."
• "You won't meet a friend sitting on your couch."
• "You may be the first person who turns on a light in a dark room."