Rethinking Perfection: A Journey Beyond the Conventional

In our relentless pursuit of perfection, we often find ourselves chasing shadows, don't we?? ...just me?

This elusive ideal of everything falling precisely into place, where life hums in perfect harmony, can be quite a tantalizing mirage. But, as I've delved deeper into this quest, I've begun to question my own and our collective understanding of what it means to be perfect.

In today's fast-paced world, a prevailing notion equates perfection with excellence and unblemished positivity.

It is as if to be perfect is to be devoid of any flaw and a state of pure goodness. However, a closer look at the word's etymology – tracing back to the Latin 'perfectus' and 'per fasare' – reveals a different story.??Perfection, in its essence, isn't about being exclusively positive; it's about completion and reaching a state of wholeness.

Isn't this a game-changer? It shifts the paradigm from seeking an unattainable state of perpetual positivity to embracing the beauty of completion.

Perfection, then, is not about the absence of flaws, but the presence of completeness in all its raw and natural glory.

This brings us to challenge the age-old adage, "Nobody's perfect." This saying, often used to console or to accept flaws, misses the mark in the light of our new understanding. If perfection is about completion, then we are all perfect in our unique ways. Each of us has been given our own measure.??Our quirks and our idiosyncrasies contribute to the completeness of who we are. They are not detractions from an ideal state, but integral parts of our whole, perfect selves.

Let's consider this: when something is complete, it doesn't automatically become a beacon of positivity, nor does it automatically align with the many connotations of excellence. Life's tapestry is far too intricate for such black-and-white interpretations. Instead, we should be more whole-minded/ mindful and consider seeing the inherent neutrality in situations and circumstances. It's not the events themselves that color our world, but the hues we choose to paint with and the lenses we use to view them- all based on our identity, values, beliefs, and emotions at any given moment. (More on this later.)

Understanding perfection as completion rather than an unblemished ideal allows us to view our lives through a lens of clarity with insightful grounding. It's about recognizing that?our journey is not a quest for a flawless existence, but a path toward embracing the completeness of our experiences?– with all their not-yet-completes, challenges, and triumphs.

Before I lose you, know that as I may push embracing this concept,?perfection as wholeness does not mean we shy away from striving for excellence.??I still very much believe, "What one can be, one must be," and that the essence of striving for excellence lies in the continuous quest for growth, learning, and our collective development. It's about the unyielding spirit to be the best we can be, to push the boundaries of our own capacity and competencies while leaving a mark of quality and high standards in all we do.

This path of self-improvement and intentional action does not contradict accepting our whole selves, with all our so-called 'flaws.' Instead, it complements our understanding of perfection, enriching our lives with depth, meaning, and fulfillment. Striving for excellence, then, becomes a test and testament to our ability to dream, to overcome, and to manifest the true essence of our spirit. It is in this unique duality of embracing our complete selves while reaching for the stars that we find the true grandeur of life.?

In redefining or recalling the definition of perfection, we can find more freedom: freedom from the shackles of unrealistic expectations, freedom to appreciate the beauty in the 'imperfect,' and freedom to live a life that's authentically ours. It's a journey of self-discovery, where we learn to value the completeness of our being in the moments.?

Let us, then, embark on this journey together and, in our own unique ways, live a life that is both a testament to the perfect in its truest form and a relentless pursuit of excellence. For it is in this harmony that we find the grandest form of life's artistry. After all, isn't it in the liminal moments that life truly unfolds its most profound lessons and beauty?

Let's return to a definition of perfection that is not a destination of absolute positivity, but as a celebration of life's unvarnished, complete story.

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Be Well. Be Brave.

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Mindfully,?

-Tray T.S. Deadwyer, CVM, CLC, CBC

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