The Perfection Trap

But it’s got to be perfect.

Many of us, especially when we’re starting something new, get caught in the perfection trap. We convince ourselves that we’ve got to have every “I” dotted and every “T” crossed before we roll out our new thing. We tell ourselves that we’re doing this because we want everything to be “just right” so that no one will be able to say anything negative (because it’s perfect).

But it’s all a myth, a ruse, a bald-faced lie. We’re not aiming for perfection; we’re trying to hide. Convincing ourselves that we’re working toward perfection is simply an easy way to keep from having to put ourselves out there.

Nothing is ever perfect. Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest minds of our time, told us that “One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist.” So, why are we wasting our time trying to be perfect?

We’re simply using the illusion of perfection to hide the fact that we’re scared. We’re scared that no one will like our ideas; that people will point and laugh; that no one will buy what we’re selling; that we’ll be a total and abject failure.

We’re scared of taking a chance.

Stop to think about it for a moment. Remember that nothing is ever perfect. Nothing ever said, nothing ever done, no product ever offered in the history of the world was loved by everyone. You could create the best widget ever invented, and there will be someone out there who’s not happy with it.

So, what are we worried about? We already know that someone’s gonna bitch!

Perfection doesn’t exist.

Why don’t we stop using it?

Perfection: the preferred hiding place of people everywhere.

Kristin Schell

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