Ken Hurley
Sometimes good is good enough. – kgh
Perfection is the enemy of progress. – Winston Churchill
Ok, I get it, the notion of “perfection” is subjective, meaning what one person considers perfect, another might think is a roaring disaster. However, some objects, methods, and ideas are widely considered so incredibly well-conceived that they approach a level of perceived perfection given their specific function. For example, the Swiss Army Knife is praised for its design and functionality as the perfect pocket knife. The cast-iron skillet is praised as a durable and long-lasting pan that actually improves with use. The Zippo Lighter is a simple design that is praised for largely being unchanged since its invention in 1933. While a perfect storm is a weather phenomenon, the phrase is also used metaphorically to describe a disastrous situation created by a powerful confluence of improbable unfortunate factors. And my favorite, the perfect pump — when you stop pumping gasoline at the exact amount you predicted. It’s a good feeling. Some may think snowflakes are perfect, with their symmetrical beauty and the fact that no two are identical. I’ve been told the human body is a perfect creation. But I disagree. I think men should have the ability to lactate — from the end of their pinky finger. Several famous musicians are known to possess perfect pitch, an ability to identify or recreate musical notes without any external reference. Some of the most well-known examples include: Mariah Carey, Ella Fitzgerald, Mozart, Beethoven, Freddie Mercury, and Charlie Puth.
Art and music require a certain level of technical skill. Although I think the true beauty of art lies with its imperfections, its emotional depth, and its ability to connect with the human experience. Creating some form of art can be a powerful experience for the artist and the enthusiasts who use their time to appreciate or reject what they’ve experienced. The effort to connect with humans is a powerful motivator. Yet an obsession with perfection can lead to uninspired artistic work that lacks the spontaneity and authenticity that make art and music so compelling. Think Rembrandt and Bob Ross. I have a friend who thinks the recordings of Pink Floyd are “perfect” — but the recordings of Pink? Meh.
In baseball, Phil Niekro, nicknamed “Knucksie,” was known for his knuckleball pitch. He had a perfectly imperfect pitch. It was slow and wobbly, but batters struggled to hit it. Also in baseball, a perfect game occurs when a pitcher retires every batter they face in a nine-inning game without allowing any opposing player to reach base by any means, including hits, walks, hit batsmen, or errors. It’s considered a flawless performance. Out of over 350,000 games ever played in baseball, there have only been 24 perfect games. The fans and team are thrilled! However, baseball also has its fair share of errors. I have a friend who named her cat Feck so she could say, “Purr Feck”. And there is Ed Sheeran’s love song, “Perfect,” about finding a soulmate and the joy of being with someone who makes you feel complete, even though they have imperfections. Land sakes alive! There is even a book titled, The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by the psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler, in which she argues that we’ve been looking at perfectionism all wrong, suggesting you don’t have to stop being a perfectionist to be healthy. Have you ever met a curmudgeon? A termagant? I have. Too many. Have you met a genuinely happy perfectionist? I have not.
Perfectionists tend to get cranky quickly when things do not happen in a manner they expect in their perfect little minds. What? Little minds? There are many people who are known to be perfectionists who have achieved astonishingly great success: Steve Jobs, Stanley Kubrick, Michael Jackson, Leonardo Da Vinci, to name a few. There is nothing wrong with trying to be a perfectionist, just as there is nothing wrong with folly. Florenz Ziegfeld knew this well.
Perfection is an enticing lure found in a human desire to strive for something better. It’s sort of like hope or a wish, in that it offers us a goal. We humans are typically inclined to seek order and control in some manner or other. Perfection offers a seductive promise of achieving these goals. A promise often broken. It suggests a state of mastery, where errors and imperfections are eliminated, and everything functions flawlessly. It’s an ideal that can be particularly appealing to humans who struggle with insecurity, anxiety, and a greater need for validation. To achieve perfection, or even strive for it, can provide a temporary sense of control and validation — which can reinforce self-esteem. The pursuit of perfection can also be a powerful motivator, driving individuals to push themselves to their limits and achieve remarkable accomplishments. Athletes often dedicate their lives to achieving peak physical performance. Their training regimes, dietary habits, and mental preparation are meticulously crafted to minimize errors and maximize performance. Ask Novak Djokovic.
The Olympic gold medalist, the record-breaking marathon runner, the ballet dancer executing the perfect plié – these individuals embody the relentless pursuit of physical perfection. However, this striving can also lead to burnout, injury, and a distorted self-image. The pressure to be perfect can be immense, leading to psychological distress and a relentless focus on flaws and imperfections. Sometimes good is good enough. As Toba Beta said in Master of Stupidity, “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice reduces the imperfection.”
Engineers, scientists, and designers strive to create machines and systems that operate with maximum efficiency, reliability, and safety. The development of the airplane, for example, involved decades of iterative improvements, each aiming to perfect aerodynamics, engine performance, and safety features. Similarly, the creation of computer software involves a constant quest to eliminate bugs, improve functionality, and create a seamless user experience. The desire for perfection drives innovation and technological advancement, leading to breakthroughs that transform our lives. However, the relentless pursuit of technological perfection can also have unintended consequences, such as environmental damage, job displacement, and the creation of complex systems that are difficult to control and understand. Remember the disastrous plight of the 737 Max, the Challenger explosion, or the windblown collapse of the suspension bridge nicknamed “Galloping Gertie” (the Tacoma Narrows Bridge). It finally swayed and bounced to its complete failure in 1940. How often has your computer crashed?
In Oscar Wilde’s, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian seeks eternal youth and beauty, striving for a kind of physical perfection. He makes a pact that will allow his portrait to age while he remains eternally youthful. However, this pursuit of physical perfection leads to moral corruption and ultimately destruction. Flaubert’s Madame Bovary portrays a woman obsessed with romantic ideals and a life of luxury, striving for a kind of perfect happiness. This pursuit of an idealized life led her to debt, disillusionment, and ultimately, suicide. The destructive consequences of unrealistic expectations and the inability to accept the imperfections of life can have severe consequences.
Some Christians acknowledge their imperfections but believe they will go to heaven — if they truly believe. Freethinkers acknowledge their imperfections too — have a laugh and don’t pretend they have a ticket to a make-believe land.
The limitations of perfection are significant. The problem with perfection is that it is unattainable. Human beings are inherently imperfect, and our capacity for error, vulnerability, and fallibility is an undeniable part of our existence. The relentless pursuit of perfection can lead to disappointment, frustration, and a sense of failure. When we set unrealistic goals and expectations, we inevitably set ourselves up for disappointment.
The pursuit of perfection can also lead to procrastination, due to the fear of making mistakes. Failing to meet our own impossibly high standards can prevent us from taking risks, trying new things, and pursuing our goals. The perfectionist may spend hours planning and preparing, afraid to start a project until everything is “perfect.” This procrastination can ultimately lead to a loss of time and opportunity. The fear of imperfection can stifle creativity and innovation, preventing individuals from sharing their work or expressing themselves authentically.
Another significant drawback of the pursuit of perfection is its potential to damage mental health. Perfectionism is often associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. The constant self-criticism and the fear of failure can be incredibly debilitating. The pressure to be perfect can lead to chronic stress, burnout, and a diminished sense of well-being. The relentless pursuit of an unattainable ideal can leave individuals feeling inadequate, unworthy, and deeply unhappy. Ever meet a truly happy perfectionist? I haven’t.
Turns out that being human is rife with mistakes. Failure is a part of the learning process, and that embracing our imperfections is essential for personal growth and authentic expression. Thomas Edison was asked why he failed so many times before he successfully invented the light bulb. He replied, “That was not failure, I just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” The pursuit of excellence, of striving to improve and grow, is a worthy goal, but it’s good to balance it with self-compassion, acceptance, and a recognition of our inherent fallibility.
When I was ten years old I mowed lawns to earn money. As I finished each lawn, I liked to step back, extend my arm straight, close one eye, stick my thumb in the air as if I were an artist assessing whatever artists assess when they look at their thumb and say, “Poyfect!” Or is it spelled “Poifect”?
We still seek, as Gouverneur Morris wrote in the preamble to the Constitution, “a more perfect Union.” It’s all an attempt to achieve something a little bit better.
However, you don’t want to hear your surgeon say, “Oops!”###
