As a kid and adult, I was like most people. I saw my flaws more than my qualities. As I was growing to build my own perspectives in life, I soon realized that I no longer worried about what other people thought. I just went through life with my eyes closed. I did not judge myself and most importantly, I started to learn to identify at least one special quality in an individual and in turn locating their 'perfection'.
Do you ever wonder why we can not be happy with things just the way they are? I often go overboard trying to fix some thing that was not broken in the first place. I should have just been thankful for that even with the flaws. Certainly you always want to do your best. It took me very long to realize that getting something done should take priority over getting it perfect. The desire to be perfect traps and burdens many of us and imprisons us with unrelenting stress, often creating havoc in relationships and other situations. This is a very curious thing, given that many people believe seeking perfection is a good thing. Like many operating assumptions and beliefs in our culture, when we take a deeper look, they may make little sense.
Perfection suggests a state of flawlessness, without any defects. To be perfect implies a condition whereby your action or performance attains a level of excellence that cannot be exceeded. Seeking perfection at a particular task might be achievable and certainly a student can strive to attain a perfect grade or you can try to accomplish a perfect execution of something. Yet, the goal of being perfect in life is altogether a different story. A machine or electronic device may operate perfectly - at least for a while. Yet over time, it will begin to wear down and require repair. Humans, however, were never intended to be perfect. That's part of the definition of being human!
In our culture we move relentlessly toward greater emphasis on achievement and goal attainment. As children we were asked what grade scored, not if we scored in what learned. We tend to measure our lives in terms of success and achievement and lose perspective on what it may mean to live well. This ruptures any sense of balance in our lives. We seem to lose the capacity for wonder and awe.
Do you ever wonder why we can not be happy with things just the way they are? I often go overboard trying to fix some thing that was not broken in the first place. I should have just been thankful for that even with the flaws. Certainly you always want to do your best. It took me very long to realize that getting something done should take priority over getting it perfect. The desire to be perfect traps and burdens many of us and imprisons us with unrelenting stress, often creating havoc in relationships and other situations. This is a very curious thing, given that many people believe seeking perfection is a good thing. Like many operating assumptions and beliefs in our culture, when we take a deeper look, they may make little sense.
Perfection suggests a state of flawlessness, without any defects. To be perfect implies a condition whereby your action or performance attains a level of excellence that cannot be exceeded. Seeking perfection at a particular task might be achievable and certainly a student can strive to attain a perfect grade or you can try to accomplish a perfect execution of something. Yet, the goal of being perfect in life is altogether a different story. A machine or electronic device may operate perfectly - at least for a while. Yet over time, it will begin to wear down and require repair. Humans, however, were never intended to be perfect. That's part of the definition of being human!
In our culture we move relentlessly toward greater emphasis on achievement and goal attainment. As children we were asked what grade scored, not if we scored in what learned. We tend to measure our lives in terms of success and achievement and lose perspective on what it may mean to live well. This ruptures any sense of balance in our lives. We seem to lose the capacity for wonder and awe.
Could you imagine looking at a magnificent rainbow and complaining that the width of one color was imperfect because it was narrower than the other colors? Not only would that be ridiculous, we would also be ruining the splendor of the moment. And yet that is exactly what we do when we judge ourselves for our imperfections. We forget that as humans we are part of nature, as well. As such, we would benefit if we came into acceptance of the natural flow of life, which by the way, happens to be imperfect.
In truth, the notions of perfect or imperfect are simply constructs of mind and have no actual basis other than the thought that has created them. We internalize a model of perfection and imbue upon it some intrinsic truth and then may spend our lives pursuing that "truth".
There is a vast difference between the measuring analysis of our thoughts or a reflective self-evaluation. Evaluating is a gentler and subtler checking in, whereas measuring makes a much deeper and incisive cut into the fabric of our being. Such measuring ruptures the integrity of our life experience and severs our greater participation in and with life. I have also realized that our body is just a vessel, that enables us to walk, talk, run, play etc. It is our spirit, who is the real us. Our true self is made of love. It is the brain that allows us to judge or be judged. Because of the programming we have allowed.
We find ourselves falling victim to paying close attention to detail in hopes of achieving perfection. Perfection is a never ending illusion we all seek. At times we feel like we have reached our level of satisfaction, but soon find ourselves chasing something new trying to find what we are looking for. There is often great beauty to be found in imperfection. No tree is perfectly straight, no mountain peak perfectly symmetrical and yet the world is filled with beautiful mountains, trees and other manificently imperfect things.
In truth, the notions of perfect or imperfect are simply constructs of mind and have no actual basis other than the thought that has created them. We internalize a model of perfection and imbue upon it some intrinsic truth and then may spend our lives pursuing that "truth".
There is a vast difference between the measuring analysis of our thoughts or a reflective self-evaluation. Evaluating is a gentler and subtler checking in, whereas measuring makes a much deeper and incisive cut into the fabric of our being. Such measuring ruptures the integrity of our life experience and severs our greater participation in and with life. I have also realized that our body is just a vessel, that enables us to walk, talk, run, play etc. It is our spirit, who is the real us. Our true self is made of love. It is the brain that allows us to judge or be judged. Because of the programming we have allowed.
We find ourselves falling victim to paying close attention to detail in hopes of achieving perfection. Perfection is a never ending illusion we all seek. At times we feel like we have reached our level of satisfaction, but soon find ourselves chasing something new trying to find what we are looking for. There is often great beauty to be found in imperfection. No tree is perfectly straight, no mountain peak perfectly symmetrical and yet the world is filled with beautiful mountains, trees and other manificently imperfect things.
When a friend is hurting, you dont have to put together the perfect combination of words to let that person know you care. All we need to do is speak from the heart. When there is a challenge facing you, it is not necessary to come up with a perfect solution. Effective, focussed, appropriate action will do just as well.
It's fine for perfection to be the goal. I just believe in not letting the lack of perfection be an excuse for doing nothing. There are countless good and valuable things in life that are far short of perfect. Infact, if everything were perfect, life would not be so interesting.
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