The Idea of Perfection

The idea of perfection is intellectual and intuitive. Let’s consider the idea in both these perspectives:

The intellectual’s idea of what it means to be perfect

1.       Efficiency, productivity, planning, and making optimum use of the available resources (that includes Time as well) is a priority here. Thus, the stress is on creating an ORDER.

2.       Since the stress is on order, if it is predictable – all the more better! Thus, a perfectionist is likely to hate deviations or spontaneity in a given sequence of work.

3.       Legal – The given work can be rational dissected and legally bounded. If there’s anything that seems to be outside the rational or the legal, then that’s either non existent or it has to be framed in the legal scheme of things.

4.       Emphasis is on the ‘individual’ alone. ‘I’ becomes very prominent. Negotiations, trouble shooting, arguments, become the norm of the day. Stress increases.

5.       Perfection was either in the Past or is in the future – That is, perfection is conditional. I had a great childhood experience, so past was great and I was happy back then! Or, unless I have a great spouse, perfect home, perfect job, perfect kid, perfect weather, I can’t be happy or perfect. This thought can keep us dissatisfied throughout our lives. The idea of perfection in this case, is “illusionary” since, we are assuming that the Present moment is NOT perfect for us! Because, we think that we are NOT perfect. Why should such a habit of thought arise, is difficult to state, but it is born out of the way in which we get trained to perceive things around us.

6.       Based on above, “change” of any kind is a huge stress factor for people driven by the intellectual idea of perfection. What doesn’t change? We change, our thoughts change, our bodies, mind, people, working styles, environments, societies – everything is bound to change. Therefore, one needs to be critical regarding excessive demand for perfection, because it can cause a lot of pain in the long term perspective. For me, being too perfect is equal to being too predictable and that can happen only if one is dead!

The idea of perfection based on intuition:

1.       Change is a part of Nature. Thus, observe the patterns of change and respond to it. It constitutes the reality of life.

2.       People behave with different frequencies. They have different perceptions, attitudes, and respond to situations in different ways based on their own tendencies. Thus, perfection deals with embracing this variety. No one is right or wrong – they are just people, like you and me, trying to reach somewhere which itself is subjective, as an idea.

3.       Let people be as they are. The emotions, fears, thoughts, experiences are valid, in themselves. They will discover their own way of understanding things. They should be given their own time to do so.

4.       With this, comes the understanding that it is not required to ‘race’ just like others are doing. For what are we racing for? And where are we going? Do we even know the destination? Or shouldn’t it be a journey of discovery?

5.       Discovery of ‘us’ leads to enjoyment perhaps. What discovery are we referring to here? Discovery of our innate nature as a life form. Discovery of our own thoughts, tendencies, emotions, feelings and so on. Discovery that others too have all these dimensions and they are affected by them. Discovery that we may control some aspects of our lives, since majority of the things would just continue to happen – regardless of whatever we might do or think. Discovery of letting go and generating ‘faith’.

6.       Discovery that – we are already perfect! This is NOT a snobbish conclusion. The idea of perfection in this case – is related to the feeling of stability of the mind despite the changing circumstances surrounding it. This raises a question – what is stability then? Thus, understanding of the term of inherent/ intrinsic stability will offer us the clue of feeling ‘perfect’ at any instant.