“PERFECTING PERFECT”

                                    Knowing When to Accept Your Best & Move On

 

            Perfecting perfect is a play on words but paints a satiny image of flawlessness; what we now understand is a portrait of one’s or another’s perception.

Beauty is symbolic of perfection but usually left to the eyes of the beholder. Reality over perception, but that’s a subject for another show.

For example, supermodels that grace the cover of magazines epitomize beauty and perfection—achieved by special effects. And a bit of airbrushing and filter editing works every time for the desired image of flawlessness but, in truth, adds up to just smoke and mirrors.

So where am I going with this, you might ask?

Well, straight away, I can tell you that beauty and perfection may have some collations but are two separate entities, however, paired descriptively related to people, places, and objects.

Perfection is a word that stands out because it suggests quality and excellence. We all strive for that but are often unable to achieve it not by any group standard but personally.

Anything manufactured or influenced by the human touch will never be perfect because we lack that ability to pull it off. But with the right tools and recognizing when less is more is obtainable.

Not to say wanting perfection or professionalism is wrong because isn’t that the overall goal?

Still, any goal is achievable. We’ve witnessed greatness at its best—stellar performances, therefore unable not by overdoing but recognizing your best and moving on.

Practice can lead to perfection. Ask Simone Biles or any other gymnast or athlete performing at the 2021 Olympics. They will tell you that to achieve their absolute best came by learning limits, commitment, and motivation.

When it relates to a particular skill set or, to be more specific, writing, we often face issues of doing too much or not enough. Overkill is real, ya’ll.

As a writer and a person with OCD, I’m unable to accept anything less than perfect. Or what I perceive as perfect. In which case, I spend too much time mulling over manuscripts that are publishing-ready. Yet, remain undecided or question my abilities leads to delays and possibly missed opportunities.

I’m not alone in this because, just like many others, I impose harsh critiques upon myself.  Sometimes harsher than any group of piers could ever be.

But stay mindful that we should hold ourselves to higher standards and is indicative of our work.

Although perfecting perfection is impossible but knowing when to accept and move on is reality.