Issue #47: Perfection IS the Problem. Are you being fooled?
Today is 1/April... the day we stop pretending that we have it all figured out đ So that makes it a good day to understand the universal joke being played on us: The more we reach for perfection, the less energy we have left to get there!
When I was in my teens, Carl Lewis became the worldâs fastest runner. I noticed he didnât win by gritting his teeth or clenching his jaw. He won because while others were burning all their fuel in a desperate, stressed scramble, Lewis conserved his energy for the final sprint.
So what does this mean for us? đđ»
When we stop striving to be perfect all the time, four things happen:
1. We stop the âmicro-leaksâ: Stress is a silent thief of peace. A peaceful mind wins easily.
2. We become accommodating: Perfection is a wall; imperfection is a door to a wider perspective.
3. Expectations dissolve: When we donât stand on the âPerfectâ pedestal, others give us more space.
4. We actually do better: This is the paradox... the lighter you grip the racket, the better it responds.
My experiences with less-than-perfect
Years ago, I walked away from professional photography the moment Photoshop became mainstream. I had spent a lot of time striving for the âperfectâ shots⊠the right light, the precise composition, the soul of the subject. Then, suddenly, any dummy could slap that perfection on artificially in Photoshop. I let my ego win that round. I stopped because my perfection didnât count anymore.
But then came my career as a professional writer, and now, the threat of AI. This time, I havenât walked away. Because I have already embraced that I am not a perfect writer. So I donât feel the need to defend a pedestal. And I can embrace AI... and leverage it!
Unlike Photoshop, which felt like a replacement for my skill, AI has become a collaborator for my ability.
What can you do now?
Remember... Perfection is a closed system. And in nature, closed systems die.
Give these micro-habits a shot:
Allow yourself to be the fool. Let othersâ âimperfectâ ideas stand.
Ask yourself: Am I doing (whatever) to be right, or to be helpful?
Identify one task where you are over-polishing and stop at 85%. Note the energy you save (like Carl Lewis).
Leave the perfection to the machines and make the messy but vibrant, yours!
By the way, I would be delighted to debate this idea with you. You are invited to BOOK TIME HERE. See you over Zoom! đ€đđ
PS: If you havenât yet obtained your copy of âThe Emptiness of Successâ, you can order it here. Also, explore your unexpected role in saving the planet through RENEWALism⊠and download the book for free (from the website footer).
PS2: In case you want to refer to the past issues of this fortnightly, here they are.