Are You Addicted To Perfection?
September 17, 2011 by Deborah Calla
Filed under Featured
Photo by Angie Rubin
Very good post by Jennifer Howard Ph.D. below. In it she discusses how fruitless and destructive the pursuit of perfection really is.
What is the definition of perfection? Who gets to define it? No two people would ever agree on what perfection is. So how can we attempt to achieve that which cannot be agreed on by a majority?
Most people when shown the color yellow will say yellow. We may all see it a shade different and we all may experience it differently but we all agree it is yellow. No the same with perfection.
The search for perfection – whatever that means to each one of us – also takes us away from a true human experience. It is through our trials, errors and tribulations that we gain wisdom. Sometimes losing or an “error” can have a greater positive impact than success.
Seeking perfection turns us against our own selves. Not embracing our “errors” as an important part of living as we do with “success”, makes us to be our own tormenters. The results are: blame and punishment instead of love and compassion.
Lastly if we concentrate our energies into being perfect there is none left to really learn, and grow.
If we are trying to achieve perfection in terms of never making “mistakes” that is a losing battle regardless of who we are. If we are trying to achieve physical perfection regardless of how pretty and fit we are, we will change with age and if we are emotionally tied to a youthful sense of perfection, we are sowing the seeds of a sad life.
Acceptance, compassion and wisdom are what create a fulfilling life of contentment. While we should try to be the best we can be – physically, emotionally and psychologically – becoming obsessed with any particular aspect of our lives will only turn us into superficial and neurotic beings.
Please read on.
Are we addicted to the idea of perfection?
By Jennifer Howard, Ph.D.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.
– Leonard Cohen
Watch any of the “reality” television shows starring beautiful people, and you’ll see something we cultivate in our culture: the pursuit of perfection. It’s often difficult to resist, and it’s reinforced everywhere in the media, in TV ads, magazines and newspapers. Everyone is at risk, especially women but men, too…Continued
