The
Myth of Perfection
“Throughout
all the ten regions of the Universe, there is no place where the
Source is not.”
Hakuin
One
of the myths of our modern culture is that we can have it all. That
it is our perfect right to have it all. We want the absolute best in
our work, in our relationships, in ourselves, in others. So often we
turn down the gift that is offered because it does not meet our
standard of perfection. How much happier we would be if we were to
accept what is, rather than what we think we have a right to.
I
see this on a small scale in myself when I shop for clothes. First of
all, I hate shopping, so I'm already grumpy when I get in the car to
go. When I get to the mall or the department store, I have a very
clear picture of what I want. I look and look and look through
thousands of dresses and shirts and pants, but I never find one that
exactly matches the one in my head. I leave the store thinking there
is nothing worth buying in any of the stores, and that is why I hate
shopping. It's pure foolishness.
As
long as we hold an image of perfection in all our dealings, we will
fail to see the gifts that the source provides. People come our way
who are kind and generous and loving, but have this tiny flaw that
obscures everything else. Our job pays the bills and provides for our
needs, but there is something else we were born to do, so this job is
not good enough. And so it goes. The rub of perfection versus reality
keeps us irritable and unsatisfied.
Getting
clear about what causes our unhappiness is a step in the right
direction. As long as we hold a negative attitude toward anything, or
anyone, who is less than ideal, we will continue to feel unhappy.
There is very little perfection in this world. As soon as we learn to
appreciate what is right before us, we will see that the world, even
with all its flaws, is a pretty good place to be. The source is
always providing for us if we have eyes to see it.
In
the spirit,
Jane
1 comment:
This is a great illustration of that old aphorism, "Perfect is the enemy of good." (attributed to Voltaire who wrote "a wise Italian says that the best is the enemy of the good.") The first time I heard that phrase was from a cardiologist describing the treatment of cardiac disrhythmias in patients. Once the treatment brings about something the patient can live with, "don't let perfect be the enemy of good."
I may have been late in becoming aware of that saying, but it struck me as something I needed to remember in many other situations.
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