You’re Not Perfect and You Never Will Be: 12 Reasons Why That’s a Good Thing
1. No one gasps in horror when you inevitably screw something up. Instead, you can get away with an “Oops” and a charming smile.
2. When you do get something incredibly right, you get to celebrate and bask in the glory–not get a chorus of “Yeah, yeah—what else is new?”
3. You get to try new things without fearing they’ll ruin your perfect track record.
4. People trust your advice because it came from trial and error, not from some superhuman talent.
5. Expecting amazing things from yourself can be a great thing. Having the outside world expect amazing things from you can be soul-crushing. Just ask Superman.
6. Sometimes the best ideas, art, and inspiration come from mistakes.
7. Who wants to color inside the lines all the time or live life like a paint by number?
8. The straight and narrow may be the fastest way to get somewhere, but it sure as hell isn’t the most exciting or even fulfilling.
9. Incredibly high standards of perfection can only alienate the people in your life and make them feel judged.
10. Having “off” days is a part of life. They’re what make the other days sparkle.
11. Perfection is so much more thrilling when it hasn’t become routine and mundane.
12. Persistence can work just as well as perfectionism, without all the stress and guilt.
What do you think? Is perfection overrated? Can anyone truly be perfect? Drop in the comments and share your opinion!
photo credit: madmoiselle lavender❤
Similar Posts:
- Persistence: A Reasonable Stand-in for Perfectionism
- The Crux of Confidence: The One Question You Must Be Able to Answer Affirmatively
- How to Do Less: Simplifying Your To-Do List
- Six Pretty Darn Good Reasons Not to Be a Jerk
- Lessons Learned from StuffWhitePeopleLike
This post has 28 comments
February 2nd, 2009
We can only try, and fail with a smile.
Nice post Sara. Good way to start my day.
Cheers,
Adam
Adam Steer – Better Is Betters last blog post..CST’s Body Weight Only FlowFit® – Bodyweight Exercises For A Complete At Home Workout
February 2nd, 2009
Perfection paralyzes me. I’m a procrastinator and I know it’s because I’m a perfectionist. I’m scared to take it on because it won’t be exactly right, so I put it off. Horrible, horrible cycle that is so hard to break. And once I do break down and get it done I wish I had done it earlier because it makes me feel better (clutter and pictures come to mind). It’s a vicious cycle.
Thanks for the list. I need to take quite a few of those to heart.
February 2nd, 2009
This is a great list! I love number 8 reminds me of another quote “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going”
SereneJourneys recent blog post..Don’t Wait Their Little Lives Away
February 2nd, 2009
I like to strive for excellence rather than perfection. There is less pressure, and it is much more satisfying to achieve.
jills last blog post..Eulogy for my Father
February 2nd, 2009
Hi
A good list and one I need. I battle with the need to be perfect and it really puts a spanner in the works when it comes to growing – your point number 3.
There are positives and negatives to everything. That’s where we need balance. Both perfect and imperfect have their pros and cons and it’s a matter of seeing that.
Juliet
LifeMadeGreat | Juliets last blog post..Overcoming The Barriers Of Introversion: Starting The Process
February 2nd, 2009
I like Jill’s point: “I like to strive for excellence rather than perfection.” I think that might be a more realistic, but still positive approach. More in line with the balance Juliet mentioned, that’s for sure!
February 2nd, 2009
I would really like to define perfect first. It is MY idea of how something MUST be. If this is accepted, it is foolish to chase this chimera.
“To seek perfection in property of health of character is not a worthy human goal; nor is it a proper cause of pride and glory for man; the knowledge of God is the only true wisdom, and the sole perfection man should seek,”
- Maimonides.
rummusers last blog post..Start Telling All The Truth Now. Pakistan – Afghanistan War.
February 2nd, 2009
Despair.Com has choice words on this:
http://www.despair.com/risks.html
http://www.despair.com/med24×30prin.html
http://www.despair.com/in24×30prin.html
http://www.despair.com/incompetence.html
http://www.despair.com/quality.html
http://www.despair.com/persistence.html
http://www.despair.com/fut24×30prin.html
Just a few comments to brighten your day.
February 2nd, 2009
Excellent post Sara. It’s good to try to do your best. But, perfection is a goal only rarely achieved even by the best of us.
A computer can draw a perfect picture. But, it can’t make real art. Sometimes the inperfections that come from the human hand can make things just a little more interesting.
Besides, how many of us really like perfect people?
February 2nd, 2009
I embrace #10 completly!!
February 2nd, 2009
Of course perfection is overrated. Even worse: it can be seriously crippling. Loved this article!
February 2nd, 2009
#8 is great!!
This is a fabulous post, I’m glad I found your blog!
xo
Dani
http://zencitychick.blogspot.com
Zen City Chicks last blog post..How To Make A Visualization Board
February 2nd, 2009
However, you can be perfectly imperfect right? I’m pursuing that
Christophers last blog post..The Secret to Happiness: Seven Ways to Savor Life
February 2nd, 2009
We should strive for excellence rather than perfection!
This is why I feel bad for people like Obama with his inauguration speech- so many people were disappointed because their expectations were ridiculously high. And Michael Phelps with being caught smoking pot. And Jessica Simpson reaching a healthier weight. When people are put on pedestals it is a pretty good indicator that there’s going to be disappointment.
Sagans last blog post..Poll: What form of exercise do you prefer?
February 2nd, 2009
#9 reminds me of why I avoid certain people (though that’s probably more of my problem than theirs). Great post!
Carlas last blog post..President Obama moves forward to a cleaner environment
February 2nd, 2009
I embrace every bit of imperfection about myself. My imperfections also make me unique. This does not mean that I don’t strive to make improvements. I’m not out to make myself perfect, but more to become happier and less grumpy each day!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..My Makeover
February 2nd, 2009
Sara,
I love points 1, 3 and 9. It took me a long time to do the “oops” and smile routine because I had such a hard time admitting I was wrong. Now I love it! People actually gave me feedback about 9 too, telling me they used to be afraid to approach me. That was sad to hear though it was many years ago, so I completely understand what you mean.
February 3rd, 2009
Hmm…I’m not sure I can exactly pull number one off. I’ve given it a shot only to hear the following response: “Yeah, nice try buddy!”
To ourselves, we’ll always strive for perfection (it’s a never-ending pursuit). To others though, we might come off as just “perfect” (think in terms of your significant other. Makes sense?).
Ricardo Buenos last blog post..Answer the Phone!
February 3rd, 2009
My favorite is #6 “Sometimes the best ideas, art, and inspiration come from mistakes”
It resonates a lot with “If you are not making mistakes it means you are working on not hard enough problems. And that is a big mistake”
Alik Levin | PracticeThis.coms last blog post..Consulting – What’s The Deal?
February 3rd, 2009
I normally think this way more in terms of my husband than myself. Sometimes when he does little things that bug me, I just stop and remember that if he were perfect then we couldn’t live together because I really couldn’t stand someone who was perfect. I’d feel too imperfect all the time.
Ruths last blog post..Somewhere, Someone is Meditating or Intending Actions So You’ll Find Happiness
February 3rd, 2009
I’ve heard lots of reasons why it’s good to be imperfect, but none like these. Thanks for the wonderful post!
healthy ashleys last blog post..
February 3rd, 2009
I used to work as a psychologist and my clients loved me because I was “real.” Or in other words I never hid my own flaws. By the way laughter goes a long way when you make mistakes.
Tess The Bold Lifes last blog post..Change Your Perception with Fun and Laughter
February 3rd, 2009
Great Post! Thanks for sharing.
February 3rd, 2009
Thanks for this post. To me, one interesting question for people who are perfectionists would be: who gets to say what’s perfect? Who gets to set the standard? It’s not like God is going to appear and tell us. When people seriously look at this question, in my experience, they tend to see that someone else from their past is actually calling the shots.
Chris Edgar | Purpose Power Coachings last blog post..Guest Article At The Positivity Blog: “How To Get Comfortable With An Empty Mind”
February 3rd, 2009
The words we choose really makes the difference between feeling good or bad. Using excellence instead of perfect is a brilliant way to emphasize greatness.
I was raised a perfectionist. I rebelled against it and went for good enough. Now I’m finding that excellence without expecting perfection. It’s taking a lot of soul searching and hair pulling, but I’m starting to arrive at a good spot.
Thanks for the reminder. I needed it after a blog post that I kept editing over and over, until I realized I was editing too much.
Karl Staib – Work Happy Nows last blog post..Extend Your Company’s Recruiting Message to Social Outlets
February 5th, 2009
Great post. It made me giggle a little. I’m a recovering perfectionist so posts like this are good for me
Nicki at Domestic Centss last blog post..Focusing On Others
February 7th, 2009
Hi Sara,
Got to your site through your comment on Glen’s post. Great points.
Coincidentally, my post today was on the fear of failure a.k.a perfectionism. Salvador Dali said it well, “Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it”. I agree with you, perfection is certainly overrated…we should never fear our mistakes because it’s only through that do we learn.
Nithyas last blog post..Fear Factor
April 5th, 2009
Oh Thanks
Add a comment