Anti-Perfection

Ah, yes, perfection. Who doesn't love the idea? Here's the thing: perfection -- the idea of it, seeking it, achieving it -- is actually one of the most toxic ideas that grips our minds. We expect it, we crave it, we wish to see it in our lives and relationships, but reality and the idea of perfection are in a constant state of friction. Reality is ever-changing. It is transformation combined with unpredictability. Perfection is the opposite. It is an attempt to control and keep things within the boundaries of a certain mental image. Reality is a flowing river. Perfection is a static painting.

Especially when it comes to our personal growth and the quality of our relationships, perfection has a sneaky way of warping our perception so that great things seem less than they really are, and small problems seem unnecessarily large. Those of us who wish to live a good life not only need to have the humility to question our perception, but we should also periodically check in with ourselves to see if perfection has created tension by taking the reins of our mind.

Much of life’s harmony emerges when we let go. If we can take our goals and work toward them by embracing progress, instead of aiming for perfection, we will build a sturdy foundation for long-lasting change. We do not need to rush to be productive. Practicing slow movement will not only decrease inner turmoil; it can also make us more effective.

Slow movements are intentional, powerful, and intelligently considered. To boldly move at our own pace and remove ourselves from any self-imposed competition can be a profound paradigm shift. Setting aside rigid timelines, embracing organic development, and maintaining focus on deliberate actions can make an immense difference in how much we achieve. In the equation for inner and outer success, speed is a small factor. We are better off concentrating on effort, commitment, and long-term consistency.

Remember: Part of what makes mountains so mighty and enduring is that they are built slowly over a long span of time.

In a society based on speed and productivity, moving slowly is a radical act. We get so caught up in moving at a fast pace because of a fear of falling behind. We do not realize how the need to rush is often self-imposed. We are partially motivated by what we think others are doing, but these thoughts are not fully based in reality. They are largely the creation of our own imagination. Our human habit has an attachment to hierarchy and the desire not to be at the bottom of it. The perception of hierarchy is something that we even impose on growth, healing, and wisdom as we measure ourselves against others to see “who is better” or “who is ahead.”

The attachment to speed and hierarchy is a sickness of the ego. There is nothing wrong with having goals and accomplishing great things, but when we are primarily consumed with being ahead of others, we are no longer working with a balanced mind and we are causing ourselves suffering through the process. Is it really a win if all the way through you suffered under all this self-imposed mental tension? Working and creating without attachment, making things for your own good and the good of others, moving without strict time limits, finding the balance between being committed and not causing yourself tension—this is how the brave and wise move through life.

~Yung Pueblo

This is why I love the idea of "being your best" -- it isn't that you need to be perfect, and it isn't that you need to be THE best. Being YOUR best means different things in different aspects. Most importantly it means trying and trying more. Being happy with what we see and do, and then trying more again.