I have a confession to make. I set up this blog a while ago and this is the first time I’ve actually posted anything. Sad, I know. The worst bit is, it’s not because I haven’t had time or something to say but rather because nothing I wrote seemed ‘perfect’ for that inaugural blog.
I’ve written a few other pieces, even given them cool
titles. But none of them seemed quite right for my first blog. None of them
were perfect. I mean, that first one’s got to be incredible! Awe inspiring!
Have everyone suddenly flocking to this particular blog as the most wonderful
in the world!
Ha ha. Yeah, right.
But still, I kept procrastinating. Kept waiting for that
perfect idea. Kept finding a thousand other things to do while I considered my
options.
Pathetic. Right? Crippled by perfection.
Now, I have no problem with perfection – in the fields of
construction, engineering, medicine, computer programming, and a thousand other
little things I use on a daily basis. I count
on the fact that those things have been made to perfection, every time. In
those fields, where the smallest imperfection can kill, I am a definite
advocate for their perfection.
But when it comes to life, creativity and relationships, the
pursuit of perfection can be crippling. Our quest for perfection becomes such
an issue that we don’t even try. And that
is a definite problem.
Being so afraid of making a mistake that we don’t do it at
all.
Walking away from a relationship because there’s a chance
one day it might fail.
Spending our whole lives missing out on joy because it might
come with heartache.
The truth we seem to often to forget is that we’re human.
And humans make mistakes. We are, almost by definition, imperfect. We grow through our mistakes, not in spite of
them. It is our imperfections that set us apart and make us who we are.
Now, maybe I’m the only one in this world crippled by this –
but I have a pretty good idea there are more like me. More people missing out
on so much joy, so many great experiences, so much growth, simply because
they’re afraid of not doing it right. Like me, they’re crippled by perfection.
And like me, I hope they realise that it’s okay to not be
perfect. It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to try, and fail. Because maybe,
just maybe, the thrill is in the trying.
