The Art of Perfection – Is Perfection really attainable?
We all seem to be always headed towards achieving our goals.
Constantly setting them, breaking them, achieving and then setting higher ones.
But always planning our next round of goals so our lives continue to feel purpose. And with everything we do, some of us seem to consistently strive for perfection. Finalizing something so well that it can never be done by anyone else in a greater way.
Or can it?
If we’re constantly striving for perfection, constantly trying to be the best – at what point do we actually stop and feel like we’ve reached it?
At what point do we think that we could never do better?
The thing with perfection is that, in some minds – it can’t quite possibly exist.
Perfection means that nothing can or will ever be better than that task, moment, job, piece, what ever the case may be.
No matter how much more you learn, or how hard you work, you will never do better than you did in this one exact perfect moment.
And maybe to some degree there is some truth to it. Maybe you could do one thing so well one way that you can’t possibly see how it could get any better.
But at the same time, you could do it another way and once again reach this so called level of perfection however with a slightly different outcome.
Reaching the same, but different, final product.
Perfection is also objective. Everyone is going to have different levels of perfection.
To a perfectionist, they will always be working to achieve something beyond greatness.
While to someone looking at trying to just make it through the day, their level of perfection and perhaps their level of standards entirely, are quite noticeably different than that of the so called perfectionist.
So with these two variables, in both minds, they both have a picture of what perfection is, while this final version if placed side by side – perfectionist and our average individual, these final versions may differ quite greatly.
Neither are wrong. In both minds, their version of ‘perfection’ has been reached. Mission accomplished, another goal to check off the list.
But what if we didn’t strive to reach perfection?
What if beyond aiming to accomplish our goals, aiming to complete them to the best of our ability. We keep in mind that whatever final destination we’re trying to reach could have different paths that lead us along the way.
We could try to reach the same goal multiple times, and try multiple different ways to achieve the same but different outcome.
And while trying new things and learning, we’re also understanding that we can always push ourselves that little bit further.
We can always try a little bit harder, dig a bit deeper and learn a little more.
With every step in the process, we’re finding new and better ways to make ourselves better.
We’re learning efficiency. Strategy. Reasoning.
We’re pushing ourselves not to perfection, but to learn and grow. And to continue to move in a forward momentum.
We can still achieve our goals, but we can also learn that we can achieve our goals again. And each time can be better than the last.
We also don’t have to push ourselves beyond the brink in a fruitless mission to achieve something that is almost unattainable.
We’re not settling – we’re evolving.
Taking the objective that is perfection, and turning it into something more attainable and realistic.
If perfection is achievable in your mind – then by all means, continue reaching for the stars.
But if perfection is something that you struggle with, always wanting to achieve but never quite hitting the mark – know that you’re not alone.
We can all reach beyond perfection. We can all strive to be better – and once we hit the best version of ourselves, change the path and see if you can be better still.
By reaching beyond perfection, one can truly be limitless. And to be limitless is to never stop learning, never stop growing, and never stop trying to be the best you can be.
Guest Blogger Rayna Davies
Rayna Davies is a graduate and practitioner of Business Management. She has developed an expertise in blogging, covering subjects like travel, world events and security. Having grown up with a father who has developed an expertise in Physical Security and Executive Protection in the RCMP and two major corporations, she has personally observed and experienced many security details. These experiences have included personally meeting HM Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many celebrities. She presently assists Sentinel Security in Executive Protection workshops and guest blogging and also assists Gloprosec Preventative Services in Intelligence gathering and Business Administration. Her passions include World travel, having visited every continent.
