Perfection. Attainable? Desirable? It depends.
Consider the following perspectives. Then see what you think.
- No one’s perfect. True enough. When we use this standard to assess others, we can safely overlook reasonable shortcomings in favor of realistic expectations. But when we use this phrase to explain away our own inadequacies, we risk being perceived as uncaring or not careful.
- I’m doing the best I can. A worthy assessment. When we examine our own conscientious efforts, this outlook can comfort us in times of stress, such as in deadline situations. But when we use this comment to account for our lack of attention to any task at hand, the phrase can sound more like a halfhearted excuse than an honest explanation.
- So-and-so is a hard worker. Often used as a compliment. Perhaps we think of ourselves as hard workers. But we should want to be known as more than hard workers. Where is the value in working long hours, not taking vacation time, never calling in sick? What good does it do to miss out on life and the living? We should want to maximize our value in our pursuit of perfection. We should strive to find value in the answers to these two key questions: What did that hard work produce? How did that hard work benefit others?
Perfection. Attainable? Desirable? It depends on how you define it.