Here’s an email I got from my Aunt Betty last year:

Do you beat yourself up because you are to be “perfect as God is perfect” in the sick interpretation of that scripture?  It really is referring to the perfection of his mercy, and beating oneself up is the opposite of mercy. It is the opposite of what the little St. Therese taught. More than anything this is where you need healing. Mercy for yourself in what you judge as a lack of perfection is hard to come by…honey, we are simply creatures…God made us to learn through mistakes…He knows we are going to grow through making them. Why can’t you accept who you are? It’s painful to watch you beating yourself up.