Perfectionism implies there’s a need to compare and judge, placing myself above or below, better or less than others or some standard that I set or society sets. It spawns worry, more judging, creates false ideas and beliefs. But, it is the need for my imperfections, and those of others, to learn and grow from. Just thinking out loud.
4 Comments
Paul
Perfectionism is an interesting concept. For me, it’s the idea that not everything is perfect, just as it is. For example, looking at a cloud, what could you say that is imperfect about it? What would you change to make it ‘perfect’. The same for a tree, a rock, etc. Yet, we insist upon it for people, situations, etc, not accepting that things are perfect as they are, but considering them imperfect because they are not as we think that they ‘should’ be, or how we want them.
Also, I see so-called imperfections as simply differences … that which makes things, at least to me, very interesting. It would be truly boring if everything were homogenous and ‘perfect’.
Monte Stevens
I’ve heard the expression that resonates with me and I think to what you are saying also, “perfectly imperfect.” I agree all things are “just as it is.” Who am I to define perfect or imperfect? How I accept life determines how I interact and react to it. Some days I’m better at it than others. There are lessons to learn each day to help me be all that I can be. Enjoy your week my friend.
Cedric Canard
I hope you don’t mind me joining you in some out-loud-thinking Monte. “Perfectionism implies there’s a need to compare and judge”. Does perfectionism really imply the need to judge or does our inclination to judge and compare push us to invent a concept of perfection? After all, can perfection exist as anything else other than a concept? Which leads me to ask, does perfection exist as a need? A drive? A goal?
Perfection to me, at least on the surface, seems more like a carrot-on-a-stick kind of concept built into our genes, programmed into our brains in order to evolve on a conscious level. But if that is true, then what of imperfections? Where do they fit in? If perfection is a concept, could imperfections also be nothing more than concepts? Kind of what you and Paul stipulate.
Is it possible that our inability to see the full picture makes us judge something as imperfect when in reality, in the big picture, it is exactly as it needs to be and therefore already perfect? Again, just agreeing with what you and Paul have said.
I realise this idea won’t fly with most people because one just has to look at the state we are in to know that we could do better. But even if we improve any or all of our “imperfections”, will there ever be a state where perfection could be reached as an absolute state? I can’t imagine humanity ever agreeing on anything en masse, including a means to measure perfection 🙂
Monte Stevens
I love it!. Was hoping you would throw something as perfect as this out there. 🙂 Yes, you supply us with more questions. That’s Perfect or at least a perfect concept!