Learning to accept that we can never be perfect is something that soothes us. By recognizing that we can only do so much, we are satisfied with the actions we take and the decisions we make – or are we? Do we crave for success? When we are giving ourselves the ‘out’ of not having to be perfect, most of us won’t try as hard as we actually could. In doing so, we aren’t reaching our fullest potential.
Be successful at being you
Try aiming to be perfect at whatever you want to do. Change your mind to think on what is possible, rather than all the things that aren’t possible. Give new tasks your all and attempt to do more with the things that really matter to you. Want to write a bestselling novel? Pick up a pen or open up a new file on your computer and start now. Take your time to craft it and hone it into something that you consider perfect. Sure, it might not be perfect to everyone else, but it’s perfect to you.
The perfection you deserve
Here’s the thing with perfection, even if we can never attain it, when we try, we can reach farther and do more than when we simply gave up on being something that’s even close to perfect. You can do more than you think you can, so stop making excuses. Get it in your head that you’re going to reach the level of perfection you desire, that you are going to do the things you think you can not do. This is the kind of thinking that will spurn you into action.
There’s a saying that says something to the effect of, “If you reach for the moon and miss, you’ll still land among the stars.” Every attempt that you make in your life is perfection – but you miss it because you think it’s just not possible.
Have a most outstanding day
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks alot for a fine read. Keep up the good work. I look forward to reading up on more later.
Thanks! I do my best to please
Hi Sean,
I like to work on the concept of giving my best effort every time. I don’t compare myself to anyone else. I compete only with myself. Every time I do something, I just make sure that I am doing the very best I can and if I’m constantly improving on my best effort, then I’m happy.
I think the trick is not to get stuck trying to make things perfect rather just do your absolute best.
Good call regarding the desire for perfection to be self defeating as it can be used as a great excuse for not trying. I’d rather have a go at something and settle for my best than worry about what others might be able to do in the circumstances or what others might think.
It is easy to be too hard on oneself if perfectionism is the aim. It is a great thing to have grand goals, but if lack of perfection in outcome is something which will prevent me from making a start, then what is the point in having the goal in the first place? When I set my own expectations and goals I want it to be by reference to what I can achieve. Sure, make grand goals, but make them something I am happy to have a go at and risk failure rather than never daring at all.
Tom McEwin´s last blog ..Getting Targeted Internet Traffic and a Hungry Crowd
I have tended to look for perfection but others around me don’t always see it the same way.
Trying to be perfect has held me back at the times. I agree with you Tom that the action needs to be taken and then improvements can be made along the way
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You’ll find that you are already perfect – you just have to step into it Gee!! And then when you look at others you will see perfection too – reject all else that doesn’t look like perfection.
Samantha Banfield´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen and his crazy talk!
The attainment of perfecting one’s craft is the basis of Karate learning. Even if you never get there, it’s about the process of the person you become while trying.
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As a general rule, I find that people who need to be perfect also need to be right, and this makes them very competitive, which is good on those occasions when they are focused on that which is positive and beneficial and loving for themselves and all.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Why? How?
I think you are confusing the 2 – the need to be perfect & righteousness.
Being perfect, & this is just my perfect interpretation, means loving yourself, accepting who you really are. But it’s getting to the nuts & bolts of who you really are so that you can step into that perfection.
For example – ME as Witty Sam. I was always this wacky, left-of-centre kinda lass but I had been fighting it all my life. Conform to society & don’t stand out – cause the minute I “accidently” slipped into the “real me” I stood out like a sore thumb. Guess what? I was never happy being someone else – someone that was what everyone else wanted (or rather someone that didn’t make them feel uncomfortable).
Once I accepted myself for who I always was (and that person is born into this world – you just have to remember who you are) I became so much happier. In fact deleriously happy that it made a difference with my writing. And the more I let go and ‘fall’ into myself the more I am becoming perfect at who I am.
And always come from the highest source – whatever that is for you & anyone that may be reading my comment. For me, it’s God (Guaranteed Overnight Delivery) – it’s that connection to source that will always bring out the best in me.
Hope that puts a shining light onto the topic!
Samantha Banfield´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen and his crazy talk!
I love your definition of G.O.D
Elly´s last blog ..
Hello Sean,
Being a perfectionist in my house!!! I struggle when I do not succeed. It is a fine balance of being able to accept sometimes I almost made it, and at the same time kicking my own butt for not being Pefect. Now I understand that trying the best, doing my best, and being the best is all I try to be every day. Sometimes I let myself down, Sometimes I let others down. But the beauty of that is I am at least amongst the stars when not at the moon:)
Cheers
Lisa
Lisa Wood´s last blog ..Married 15 Years
Hi Lisa,
Sometimes the chase for perfection can leave you frustrated and dissatisfied. I think as long as you’re aiming for perfection that’s not on an OCD scale; it’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with wanting the best.
Besides, as you say, even when you don’t hit the moon, you still land amongst the stars.
Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion
I am perfect at being Witty Sam… but there is always room for improvement. And that’s what the journey is about… and on the way spread joy and laughter!
Samantha Banfield´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen and his crazy talk!
You know, sometimes the miss actually brings about a truly amazing bonus, and thus a gift. Landing amongst stars is a pretty decent sort of goal.
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness
G’day Sean,
” When we are giving ourselves the ‘out’ of not having to be perfect, most of us won’t try as hard as we actually could. ”
That is a powerful statement if there ever was one. It’s the reason we think it OK to quit at the slightest hiccup and obstacle to our dream. More like wishful thinkers than dreamers ! It’s like the person who waits ALL their life for the perfect time to start a business, and waits and waits until suddenly it’s time to drop off the perch. Because it was never the PERFECT time they never found out if they could achieve a great result. Very sad.
Cheers
Harry
Harry Lynn´s last blog ..How Proud Can One Be ?
Hey Sean,
From your explanation of perfection, above, it can also be linked to goal setting. Set big, bold and brassy goals and even if you don’t attain them, you’ll be further along than if you never tried.
But even that can be boiled down to something even more basic. You can’t achieve anything, or change anything, if you don’t do anything. Of course, there is always an exception to the rule, and for this it is: if you want to be perfectly content with where your life is at the moment, then keep doing what you are doing, as you’ve achieved your perfection (but then would those people be reading here?)
Just a thought.
Cheers,
Pete
Pete´s last blog ..peteboyr: @bullhunter Thanks, Sean. Just reviewing the webinar, and will get to your blogs after that. Big night ahead, pizza on the way!
Thanks Sean, I’ve learnt something from the quote “If you reach for the moon and miss, you’ll still land among the stars.” Perfection is every attempt we make in our lives.
Thanks again Sean, keep em coming.
Cheers
Rose
Rose Kawe´s last blog ..Risk Free Internet Marketing
Hi Sean,
To set large goals is something I have only been doing lately and I may not be reaching for the Moon just yet, but that will come but I am reaching some of my goals
Rita pepper´s last blog ..Learn and Earn
Hi Sean
What is perfection? My perfection and your perfection will be very different. Perfection is just a concept, a label. We strive to be something that eveyone has a different concept about.
It seems really crazy that some people torture themselves over the need for perfection.
Being the best you can be at something takes out the competition against the phantom of perfection and allows you to enjoy your striving.
Elly´s last blog ..
Hi Sean,
striving for perfection can be tricky – if you don’t celebrate the small successes on the way but only allow yourself to be happy/celebrate once you have “reached perfection”.
Besides that I fully agree that it’s important to always strive to be the best you that you can be and to think of what you want to achieve as possible rather than of the things you see as “realistic” at this moment in time. Because that will limit you and it is a cheap excuse.
Somehow you always will get the perfection you deserve – no matter how high you put the bar
Renee´s last blog ..10 Good Habits Worth Having
I remember having a discussion many years ago with a guy I worked with in a sales role about different personality types (we both had a psychology background). I asked him what personality type he thought I was. When he told me, I replied that he was wrong. His reply was that I would burn out trying to be someone I wasn’t. Although I didn’t believe him at the time, he was spot on!
It is so important to be yourself, and also to do something that you’re passionate about. I believe that these will take you a long way towards achieving great success in life.
I agree Elly with your comment, about being the best you can be
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Aim to be perfect because it lets your mind create the possibilities and you will achieve far, far more. What I think you also have to do is to recognise that perfection when you do achieve it.
I did use to say “If you aim for the treetops and miss and you land on the fence at least you have achieved more than not tried at all.” A while ago a friend asked me if I was a aiming high enough.
From then on I followed the above “If you aim for the moon and miss and land among the stars I am much higher than the treetops.”
Always think big.
Striving for perfection is great but will you ever be perfect?
Your aim is the perfection you desire. It gives you direction to do that little bit extra that others are not prepared to do.
Soar with the ‘perfect’ eagles rather than mingle with the mediocre turkeys.
Hi Sean,
This is something that I wish I had learnt a long time ago, still it is good to be privileged enough to know now & pass on to my children. I may never be perfect but each step I take brings me closer to perfection : )
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