MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – “If only I could change just this one thing about myself or my life, I’d be happy.”

Does that sound like something you’ve thought before? Many people get caught in that trap of perfectionism.

Now a new book — “Imperfect Spirituality: Extraordinary Enlightenment for Ordinary People” — is teaching people how to appreciate challenges in life.

Author Polly Campbell went through some major changes prior to writing the book. She had a baby, experienced some financial stressors and was diagnosed with melanoma.

Her book is all about how to use imperfections and challenges for personal development.

“I think wherever you are in your life, you feel that there are times when you don’t measure up. Maybe you’re comparing to something external like the other mother, the father down the street. We always compare ourselves and tend to feel we can’t measure up,” she said. “We’re going to make mistakes. We are human. If we can let go and embrace those things that are less than, we can do better with the skills we have.

Campbell is doing a reading of her book Thursday night. She will be at Magers and Quinn in Uptown starting at 7:30 p.m.

You can watch her entire conversation with Natalie Kane in the video below: