Unhooking the Desire for Perfection, No. 55



The human mind is littered with ideals of perfection. People push themselves beyond their limits to reach targets that they think are obtainable. Some believe this is expected of them and others have such a driving determination that their goal completely takes over life. Aiming high is a human trait that can get obsessive, but does perfection lead to delay and wasted opportunities? Can perfection miss the mark and create conditions that are not ideal at all?

Perfection is the act of improving something until it is faultless, though everyone has a different idea of what that means to them. Can the great works of humanity be considered perfect, since seemingly untouchable inventions are always being improved on by others over the centuries? Are individuals trying to reach an end stage of a completion that may never arrive? At some point the time wasting has to stop and satisfaction achieved. Obsessions can be dangerous, destructive and detrimental to family relationships. The semi-hermit existence can often restrict the very thing that is meant to be attained. That said amazing milestones have been reached, though other initiatives have detrimental qualities that have caused more harm than good. In the desire for a perfect career, business, invention or scientific discovery, unspoken motives need to be examined.

Passing messages of perfection to children is one of the reasons there is so much depression and anxiety in classrooms and households. Social media and advertising also play their part in the game of perfection. If children are constantly told that they are not good enough, not like the rest, they can improve on almost everything and comparisons are made – how can we expect children to be happy.  Children are living in pressure packed situations trying to keep up with expectations that belong to others. Each child is gifted in their own way, even if that does not fit in with the general expectations of the populace.

Unhooking the desire for perfection is certainly worth considering. Until daily life is examined, few really know what they are chaining themselves too! Obsessions are enjoyable bubbles, just you and your passion, while decay takes hold of other areas of your life. Balance means taking a break and asking how perfect it needs to be! Critical self-judgement is not helpful. Limit your time in creative mode, maybe a few less hours in the workshop will clear your mind and help you make better decisions. You and your ideas are brilliant; but put perfection aside and let creativity and common-sense merge for a healthier life. A couple of little dents, faults and imperfections are part of natural living and what makes every living creature unique! Just be yourself.

Sharon D Bush
Writer   Historian   Artisan   Sage     

www.sacredliving.com.au   www.thesage-sb.blogspot.com
www.questers-corner.blogspot.com    http://facebook.com/sharon.bush.58 
Instagram: @THESAGE00 or  @SACRED_LIVING
Email: sharonbush66@gmail.com
Book: The Scrolls of Wisdom, philosophical/spiritual self-help book finished (on the final edit – looking for publishers).

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