Why perfection and prosperity do not go hand in hand.
An exploration of the illusion of perfectionism in experiencing prosperity.
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per·fec·tion| pərˈfekSH(ə)n |
noun
the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects: the satiny perfection of her skin | his pursuit of golfing perfection.
a person or thing perceived as the embodiment of perfection: I am told that she is perfection itself.
the action or process of improving something until it is faultless or as faultless as possible: among the key tasks was the perfection of new mechanisms of economic management.
pros·per·i·ty| präˈsperədē |
noun
the state of being prosperous: a long period of prosperity.
wealth, success, profitability, affluence, riches, opulence, the good life, (good) fortune, ease, plenty, welfare, comfort, security, well-being; luxury, life of luxury, milk and honey, a bed of roses; prosperousness, successfulness; archaic speed, Godspeed.
In the pursuit of achieving success, many of us are drawn to the idea of perfection. We envision a flawless path paved with achievements, where every endeavor is met with seamless execution and unparalleled results, with people applauding us from the sidelines like we’re running a marathon. However, reality often diverges from this idealistic vision that at one time or another we’ve felt like striving for perfection is the only way or the best way.
Despite any relentless efforts to attain perfection, there is possibility that we can frequently find ourselves grappling with setbacks and imperfections along the way. I don’t know how many times I’ve tried to design and control my way out of experiencing failure only to feel super disappointed in where I’ve ended up with a loss of control, smothered by imperfection, and feeling no where near abundant.
This begs the question: does perfection truly lead to prosperity?
Contrary to popular subconscious belief, the correlation between perfection and prosperity is not as straightforward as it may seem.
The Paradox of Perfection
Perfection is often perceived as a desirable trait that goes hand in hand with success and prosperity. I remember pitching myself as a ‘Perfectionist’ in job interviews when asked to share my strengths. 🙄
However, it took many years of trying to get things right to realize that my relentless pursuit of perfection has also been a hindrance to experiencing the abundance and joy that prosperity embodies. I learned that my desire for flawlessness can also lead to analysis paralysis, unable to take decisive and confident action. And that in reality, progress is often messy and nonlinear, it can also be coloured by trial and error, experimentation, and taking the scenic route, rather than quick and flawless execution.
As my pursuit of perfection offered a beautiful incubator for the fear of failure, I have experienced many flavours of self-sabotage that looked like feeling too afraid to put myself out there and truly, fully believe in myself. This pressure of perfection, sprinkled with the fear of success can be the perfect recipe for feeling trapped inside a cycle of self-doubt and indecision… growing even further away from any feelings of prosperity.
Embracing Imperfection
What could be possible for us if we began embracing imperfection and learning from failure?
I always find it so wild that history holds so many examples of successful individuals and organizations that have achieved greatness for society and the advancement of social issues, science, and technology despite the numerous setbacks and imperfections they experienced along the way. In design school I learned about the iterative design process embraced by innovative companies like Apple, where imperfection is not merely tolerated but embraced as a catalyst for growth and innovation. Yet, why is this pressure to get things right to the highest level such a consistent thing amongst us as humans? Is it because we often do not share the process but rather just the outcome?
It’s through our imperfections that we can cultivate resilience, adaptability, and creativity—the very qualities that propel us towards prosperity. By reframing the failures that we think we need to keep secret to being valuable learning experiences that we get to be transparent about throughout the process, perhaps we can normalize the power of imperfection as the fuel to any journey of success.
The Myth of Perfect Prosperity
In today's hyper-connected society, the pressure to project an image of perfect prosperity is pervasive. We see the cover of Forbes sharing the "“Top x under x” to celebrate people’s contributions to the world tied to their extreme wealth. We see social media platforms showcasing curated snapshots of success, perpetuating the myth that prosperity goes hand in hand with flawlessness. However, beneath the perception of perfection lies a more subtle reality—one characterized by setbacks, challenges, and moments of vulnerability.
Ahhh… vulnerability… now celebrated by me, but was once a weakness that I was taught to be ashamed of. The constant pursuit of perfection can take a toll on our mental health and well-being. The fear of falling short of unrealistic standards can lead to anxiety, burnout, and feelings of inadequacy and shame. I wish I knew what I knew now during all of the times where I felt like I had to hide the more emotional, vulnerable, imperfect parts of myself.
If embracing imperfection allows us as individuals to cultivate more self-compassion and resilience, surely our approach to prosperity and perfection will continue to shift.
While the allure of perfection may seem enticing, or be conditioned into our ways of being, I want to share this reminder with you that perfection is ultimately an unattainable ideal that can keep us from experiencing more joy, success, and well-being.
True success lies not in achieving flawlessness, but in embracing imperfection as a natural and inevitable part of the journey of our lives. By reframing failure as a stepping stone that carries us to that next step that brings us to experiencing even more prosperity, there is so much more wonder we can unlock for ourselves.
If you are interested in expanding your own understanding around perfection and prosperity, I hope you’ll consider joining me in Disrupting Perfectionism in your own life!
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