Progression vs Perfection

We’re sold on perfection every day. When you’re watching a tv commercial, you see an attractive male or female model who’s fit, has glowing skin and is in Olympic level shape.? When you’re browsing on Instagram you see pictures of your friends, famous people and influencers showing their pictures and reels from their vacations and all the lavish ways their lives appear to be “perfect”

We (incorrectly) assume that everyone’s life is perfect except ours. We want to start something new, maybe a new exercise program, a business or starting a blog or podcast but we’re waiting for the “perfect” time.? Once xyz is in place then I’ll start. That’s what we tell ourselves each time we hesitate on starting something new.

This obsession with perfection is what paralyzes us. What things in this world are perfect? Is a pen perfect? Does it help me write down important things like notes or reminders or letters - yes. Is it perfect? No. I can’t just erase something written in pen. Is a tree perfect? It provides shade, benefits our environment, and supports homes for other animals. Is it perfect? No. The shape of a tree may be bent in one direction. Leaves and branches fall off over time and during different seasons.

Nothing in this world is perfect - it’s temporary. When we buy a pair of clothes they might be clean without any visible wear and tear but over the years, stains, rips and other visible damage take over. We don’t necessarily stop wearing them. In fact we sometimes embrace those imperfections as a style e.g. ripped jeans. Something that looks and feels perfect may not feel that way in a few years.

None of us are free from flaws or defects. When we look at our lives through a lens that we aren’t perfect but are trying our best, that’s when we find opportunities otherwise we fixate on flaws that turn into obstacles.?

Life is about progression. If we can make the shift from trying to seek perfection to focusing on progression - that is the antidote. Focusing on moving in the right direction vs trying to make the perfect decision or the perfect move. We tend to have a mindset of doing something perfectly or not doing something at all.

Some games allow a player to reset a few moves backwards if they make a decision they aren’t happy with or doesn’t lead to a desired outcome. Unfortunately we can’t reset and go back a few moves but we can learn from the moves we made, what worked, what didn’t work and make better decisions going forward. It’s better to make a move and learn from it or correct it if possible later vs not making a move at all.

Consider creating a rule e.g. the 70% rule. Anything you do or create needs to be at least at 70% of what you want to move forward with. 70% shows value, progression and also leaves room for growth and experimentation. The journey from 70 to 100% isn’t always as noticeable.

You can aim for 100 but your target isn’t 100%. Your target is much more realistic. This allows for grace and for that space to grow.

Perfection is accepting our imperfections. This is the journey of life and experiencing our flaws and imperfections.?

Thanks for reading and see you again next week.

~V

The Hustler’s Mindset