The Ever-Evolving Quest for Perfection: Lessons from Personal Experiences

In my teens, I would spend many weekend hours sewing and creating for myself, my family and friends. I loved to do it; it fed my imagination and my sense of accomplishment. I recall one Christmas deciding to make a garment for my boyfriend. When I finished, I noticed a hole in the material, and spent the next 4 days meticulously creating a patch that became an art statement. That was a cherished moment for me: I’d elegantly solved a problem, and nobody but me knew it had ever been a problem.

For me, that’s perfection.

I remember in university being close friends with a poet, who chose to focus on his art at the cost of living barely beyond poverty level.  It was his decision and I respected it, knowing I would not choose the same for myself. He’d spend months, sometimes years, reviewing and tweaking a poem he’d created, always finding something he didn’t quite like about it. I have one of those poems … one of his earlier versions and also the eventually published one. Honestly, I like the earlier one best, feeling fortunate to be able to read both side by side.

For my poet friend, perfection was something just out of reach.

In an episode of Startrek Voyager, Seven of Nine’s pursuit of perfection was her religion. She even came close to destroying her world for the sake of a momentary glimpse of an instance of it.

For Seven of Nine, perfection was something to aspire to at all cost.

For Michael J. Fox, seeking excellence is way better: I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business.

Quote of the Week

The maxim, "Nothing prevails but perfection," may be spelled PARALYSIS. - Winston Churchill

Our dangerous obsession with perfectionism is getting worse

Maryanne Nicholls is a Registered Psychotherapist.  To find out more, gain access to her weekly newsletter, meditations and programmes, sign up at www.thejoyofliving.co .