As human beings, we are not perfect, and striving to achieve perfection can sometimes be detrimental to the goal we are trying to attain.
Seeking perfection; immaculate formatting, checking for every mistake, removing any risk of error; is an admirable goal, but may result in no action or impact.
(updated 26/01/23)
Hence, it is important to address the issue of Perfection right at the start of our journey.
Own Your Imperfections
In my blog posts, and in the work that I set you, I am not seeking perfection.
I am focussed on turning your ideas into action and supporting you in realising your potential to achieve the success you deserve; however you define it.
I am hoping to share some of my experiences, knowledge and learning in the best way I can so that you can be prepared for your journey towards your success.
It’s about action and impact and not perfection.
As I started you on the Fantasize journey, I received some fabulous feedback from my students in Brazil, and it reminded me to tell you why you must Focus on action toward your ambitions, and not be insistent on being a perfectionist in that action.
I recently provided some training for The Women Leadership Programme of Start SE University in Brazil, a university course to support women Entrepreneurs and Changemakers the topic was “Perfection”.
I cannot remember exactly what I said, but I was sincerely touched by numerous students contacting me on LinkedIn to thank me for helping them.
STARTING something, rather than trying to get it absolutely right before launching it, is much better than not starting it at all, or waiting too long until the opportunity has been lost.
Take me for example – My team get angry with me because my Pinterest and Instagram posters are not all aligned, I use the wrong fonts and choose to sometimes use my own photos, which are in no way professional. My argument is that it is more important to get things almost right, keep things unique, and most importantly get my message out on time than to have everything faultless.
Of course, you may be different to me – and that is what makes each one of us special. All I am asking of you is that by seeking perfection you do not lose sight of your goal.
In our case, my team operate the main WESTT WORLD blog site and are building a new platform. I allow them to do it their way, and I don’t interfere with them. For my own satisfaction, I am using Systeme.io to build a separate blog site, so that I learn the necessary skills, and in that, try to correct my imperfections where I see them.
I have to say, at my old age I am loving Systeme.io as it’s so easy to manage and build a quick site to grow our audience.
When we have uploaded both sites, you will no doubt be able to tell which one I created, and I hope that you will accept my failings and Focus on the content of what we are offering you.
This is where I say, “exceed expectations”: Do what you can do for yourself and others, but don’t impose pressure upon yourself that you cannot reach the goal because of your desire for perfection. We will cover Exceeding Expectations in a future blog post.
Are you trying to be perfect, or are you happy taking imperfect action towards a goal?
There is a difference between the two, and it's important to understand which one you're striving for.
If you're trying to be perfect, you're likely setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration. You're likely to compare yourself to others and feel like you're falling short. You might avoid taking action because you're afraid of making a mistake.
On the other hand, if you're taking imperfect action towards a goal, you're more likely to achieve that goal. You're not worried about making mistakes, because you know they're part of the learning process. You're focused on taking steps forward, even if they're small ones.
So, ask yourself:
Why are you trying to be perfect?
Is it something that's truly important to you, or is it just a way to procrastinate and avoid taking action?
If it's the latter, remind yourself that perfection isn't necessary – progress is what counts!
The Myth of Perfection
The quest for perfection is often an exercise in futility.
It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that perfection is the goal we should be striving for in all aspects of our lives. We strive to be perfect in our relationships, our jobs, our lives and our ambitions, but the truth is that perfection is an unattainable goal.
Many people believe that to be successful, they must be perfect. This is simply not true. In fact, many of the most successful people are far from perfect. They have made mistakes and learned from them.
Furthermore, the myth of perfectionism can be damaging to our mental and emotional health.
Perfectionism is a form of self-imposed pressure that can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
The truth is perfection is an unattainable ideal that can lead to more harm than good. The pursuit of perfection can often lead to unhealthy levels of stress and anxiety, not to mention burnout. This can also be coupled with a lack of self-compassion and unrealistic expectations.
This perfectionist myth can be damaging because it can make people afraid to take any action at all. They may fear that if they don't do something perfectly, they will be judged or ridiculed. This can lead to procrastination and a feeling of inadequacy. It can also prevent us from acting altogether, out of fear of making a mistake or not being good enough.
If you're constantly second-guessing yourself or waiting for the "perfect" moment to act, you'll never get anything done.
It is important to ask yourself:
Is your perfectionism helping or hindering you?
If you find that it's preventing you from acting, here are some questions to ask yourself:
What would happen if I made a mistake
How would I feel if I didn't meet my own high standards?
What would happen if I didn't do everything perfectly?
Answering these questions can help you to see that perfectionism is often an unrealistic and unhelpful goal. It's okay to make mistakes and not be perfect - in fact, it's essential for learning and growth. So next time you find yourself stuck in the pursuit of perfection, remember that imperfect action is better than no action at all.
Or as Harry S. Truman said, “Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.”
You Are Not Your Mistakes
It’s important to remember that imperfection is part of the human experience. We all make mistakes and we all have flaws. Embracing our imperfections is an important step in leading a happy and healthy life.
The key to success is not perfection but taking action despite imperfection. By acting, we learn and grow. We become better versions of ourselves. And eventually, we achieve the success we desire. So, don’t let the fear of imperfection hold you back from taking action and chasing your dreams. Remember, perfection is a myth. And success is attainable by taking imperfect action.
Imperfection is the Path to Improvement
The Power of Accepting Your Flaws
Instead of aiming for perfection, we should focus on doing our best and being kind to ourselves along the way. Remember that progress, not perfection, is what ultimately leads to lasting happiness and satisfaction. What matters is how you learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.
When we make errors, imperfections, it allows us to see our flaws and work on them. If we never made any mistakes, we would never learn and grow as individuals.
Making mistakes is essential to the learning process; it allows us to identify areas where we need to improve and gives us the motivation to work harder.
Of course, nobody likes making mistakes, but we should view them as opportunities for growth instead of roadblocks.
Remember that everyone makes mistakes – even the most successful people in the world. The key is to learn from your mistakes so that you can become a better version of yourself.
So don't be afraid to make mistakes! Embrace your imperfections and use them as a springboard for improvement.
The road to perfection is not a straight one. It is full of twists and turns, ups and downs.
Imperfection is the path to improvement because it forces you to reflect on what went wrong and learn from your mistakes. It is only through trial and error that we can hope to achieve perfection. So don't be afraid to make mistakes, they are essential to your success.
To become better, we must first accept that we are not perfect. This may be difficult to come to terms with, but it is an essential part of the journey to improvement and to our success. By recognizing our imperfections, we can begin to take the necessary steps to improve ourselves.
Strive For Excellence - The Secret to Achieving Perfection
No one is perfect, but that doesn't mean we can't strive for excellence. By embracing our imperfections and taking action towards improvement, we can get closer to our goal of becoming the best versions of ourselves.
It is often said that “perfection is the enemy of progress” (Winston Churchill). This may be true in some cases, but in others, it is only through striving for perfection that we can hope to improve.
In many areas of life, it is only through trial and error that we can hope to find the best possible solution. If we never attempt to do something perfectly, we will never know how close we could have come. It is only by constantly pushing ourselves to do better that we can hope to achieve excellence.
Of course, this doesn't mean that we should strive for perfection in everything we do. There are many areas of life where good enough is sufficient. But in those areas where we really want to excel, it is worth putting in the extra effort to try to achieve perfection.
How to Use Your Imperfections to Your Advantage
Why You Should Embrace Your Imperfections
We all have imperfections. Whether it's a physical trait, like a scar or birthmark, or a personality quirk, everyone has something that makes them unique.
The journey to towards your success is no different.
And while it's easy to focus on what makes us different, it's important to remember that our imperfections can be used to our advantage.
Here are some ways you can use your imperfections to your advantage:
Embrace your imperfections - Don’t try to hide them or pretend they don’t exist. Accepting them as part of who you are is an important step in learning to love yourself just the way you are. Once you're able to do that, you'll be surprised at how much more confident you feel. You will become more comfortable with them and they’ll have less power over you.
Use them as motivation - Your imperfections can be used as motivation to achieve your goals. If you don't like the way you look, use that as motivation to get in shape. If you're shy, use that as motivation to push yourself out of your comfort zone and make new friends. Whatever it is, let your imperfections be the driving force behind making positive changes in your life. Use them as fuel to push yourself harder and strive for excellence.
Be authentic - Your imperfections make you who you are – so embrace them! Be genuine, be proud of who you are, and people will respect you for it.
Learn from your mistakes - Everyone makes mistakes – it’s part of being human -what counts is how you learn from those mistakes and grow as a result.
Don’t compare yourself to others - Comparison is the thief of joy, so don’t fall into that trap! Accept yourself for who you are, imperfections and all, and be content with that.
Let them make you unique. Remember that your imperfections make you unique and special. There's only one YOU in this world, so embrace what makes you different! Your uniqueness is what makes you interesting and attractive to others, so let your light shine bright!
How to Overcome Perfectionism and Value Imperfection
I think I have covered everything I wanted to, so I am going to leave you with 15 questions you need to consider for yourself now. Time to reflect.
What does perfection mean to you?
Are you afraid of not being perfect?
Do you put unrealistic expectations on yourself?
Do you strive for perfection in all that you do?
Do you find that being perfect is important to you?
Do you feel that you have to be perfect?
Do you often compare yourself to others and find yourself wanting?
Do you believe that if you're not perfect, you're not good enough?
Do you find yourself never feeling good enough no matter what you do?
Do you think that mistakes mean that you're a failure?
Do you have trouble completing projects because they're never "perfect" enough?
Is it hard for you to accept compliments because you don't feel like you deserve them?
What are the consequences of striving for perfection?
Is perfectionism helpful or harmful to you?
How can you balance your need for perfection with your need for progress?
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We will also provide you with templates, e-books and downloadables that we have created to add momentum to your quest – Meaning: You will achieve your ambitions faster, overcome any challenges, and be ready to grasp new opportunities as they appear before you.
Gandhi said, “You must be the change YOU want to see”
Madi says, “You must be the change YOU want to see – NO EXCUSES!”
Founder Madi Group www.madisharma.org
Founder Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank www.westtworld.com
Author Madi No Excuses! www.madinoexcuses.com
Entrepreneur, International Speaker, Freelance Journalist
Listed as 1 of apolitical’s 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy in 2018
@MadiSharma1
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