Throw away the glass slipper!

We all know the story of Cinderella.... How she wanted nothing more than to go to the ball, and to see the Prince. She ached for it so badly that miraculously, her fairy God-mother appeared and granted her wish! She was able to go to the ball, and connect with her Prince Charming! But as the clock struck 12, she had to run away, and left nothing with the prince but a glass slipper; sending him on a quest to find the perfect match, until finally, they were able to be together and live happily ever after.

It's such a beautiful story....

But it's full of lies.

Many of us were raised to believe that there was one perfect match for us in this world, and how we had to go out and find them! We grow up watching princess movies, and somehow in the end, everyone ends up with the perfect match and lives in bliss for the remainder of their lives!

So, after watching these movies, we create a list...

Growing up, my list kind of looked like this:

-Dark hair
-6'4"
-Funny
-Perfect smile
-Cooks
-Green eyes
-Eagle scout
-Good career
-Must love cats

And many other little personal details....

Is it bad to have a list? Not exactly... But what happens when someone doesn't match up with a bullet point? What if that glass slipper that you've created doesn't fit exactly to a potential relationship? Hasta la vista to Bachelor #1. And Bachelor #2, and #3, and so on.

In today's society, we try and look for perfection in a potential spouse. That glass slipper has to fit perfectly in order for us to get our happily ever after! If not, our lives will be filled with sadness and disappointment.

But will it?

Who on this Earth is perfect? No one. Not a single human being alive can call themselves perfect.

And let's reverse this list thing for a moment. Do you think that you will fill every bullet-point that someone has created for their perfect spouse? Probably not.

To speak on a somewhat deeper note, which one of us has lived a perfect life? If someone comes to us with a past that isn't "up to par" with your idea of perfection, how will you react? This life is full of trials and mistakes. Is it up to us to be the judge of someone for a past misgiving?

Christ completed the Atonement in order for us to become clean from past mistakes and to become better... And through the Atonement of Christ, we can unlock our true potential.

And what is it that we are truly looking for in a relationship? Perfection? Where's the journey in that? What is the point in forming a union and having nothing to work on?

No, we marry potential!

The journey together is when you'll find those things on your list. Maybe not physical attributes, but emotional and spiritual. You grow together to reach your truest potential.

That's the ultimate goal.

So, please. Throw away the glass slipper already! You're not gonna find a perfect fit.

Instead, look for someone who helps you. Look for someone who will love and support you through life's hard challenges! Look for that person that you can grow with and that between the two of you, you both can achieve your eternal potential.