Escape the Perfectionist Mind
It’s quite difficult escaping the perfectionist mind, isn’t it? Every piece I write, every act I perform, every movement, I wish to be done perfectly and smoothly, with no error at all. As best as it can be. Even this piece right here. Though I know it’s a folly.
I know it’s better to learn how to accept good enough. In all things: life, work, and play. One of the greatest arguments for it is that you will get so much more done. To chase after perfection, you must continuously chase after every single speck behind every single piece. But if you can accept good enough, you can move on to the next chapter thereafter. After good enough, that is. And that alone will net you much more—a wider catch, a wider grasp. Whereas perfection will give you one or two solid, golden portraits. Which is not bad, depending on the case. But for most, good enough will do. Is this piece good enough? I think so.
I will have to make it so. Though my little brain keeps itching at me to re-read and re-read until no more. But then I wouldn’t move on to my next piece and my next task. Let this be good enough! I will not re-read or edit it! Maybe I will re-read it once to get an idea of what I wrote, since I’m stuck here at this line right now and have slightly forgotten what is up above me. My cursor moves along. Let this be good enough, let me be flailed for the mistakes I have made. I am a failure. Oh, why couldn’t I be pure perfection? Why would I want to be? Why does it even matter? To have a perfect shield? A perfect sword? To deflect all criticism? To reap all rewards? To be on top, on top of it all? To let this piece be the best thing you have read and heard? I guess so.
This will be good enough. It’s okay not to be perfect. Perfection is a pipe dream anyway. It is a waste of time, that I certainly know. I need to produce more and get more out there: not leave one golden poop, but many thousand silver ones. And maybe, accidentally put out a golden one; or maybe perfect is never real and it is all dependent on the moment and the beholder. Maybe this is perfect for you, perfect for me, but not for them. Oh well, this is good enough. Farewell.