Perfection Illusion

“Perfection is eating us from the inside out.” 

I can’t take credit for the insight associated with the above quote. Like many interesting and helpful things my clients and I  co-create, this one came from my client, not out of any advanced graduate school textbooks.

 Here’s what I take from it...

 Somewhere along the way some of us decided that perfection is the pursuit; the goal. It’s a ‘pro-social’ concept. “Pursuit of perfection” makes a powerful statement if you’re writing ads for Lexus, but not if it’s driving you as a human being. 

 When working with people I do my best to reframe “perfect” to “ideal.” Ideal is not perfect, it’s awesome. 

 How wonderful to have the ideal body for your actual frame and height and age...with that ‘ideal’ concept ever evolving as you learn more about nutrition and healthy exercise.

 How great to be in an ideal relationship because you’ve worked your asses off to show up as your truest selves, see and hear each other, and clean up ruptures regularly, fairly soon after they happen (which they WILL, even in ideal relationships!)

 How wonderful to find the ideal learning environment for YOU? One in which you fit well, are understood, and find your way to grow at your pace, with opportunities to push yourself toward excellence.

 None of the above scenarios are perfect because perfect doesn’t exist...except maybe in a flower or a newborn’s tiny fingers.