Perfection in Life
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This word, “perfection,” is amazing. I have heard this from my friends, my teachers, my colleagues, and my siblings for a long time. Somehow, this did not resonate with me, but I was never sure why. Statements such as 100% perfection, 110% perfection, 100% honest, 200% honest, 110% effort, and 200% effort have intrigued me and compelled me to examine these in light of my concepts. I, therefore, dived deep into it and tried to understand the idea of “perfection” and how it tends to optimize our lives. Perfection means being “complete” and “correct” in every way (Cambridge Dictionary). In the “Perfection: the Term and the Concept,” Dialectics and Humanism, Tatarkiewicz[1] has described three ingredients of the term: Which is complete, i.e., which contains all the requisite parts Which is so good that nothing of the kind could be better Which has attained its purpose. This concept of perfection has often been confused with similar concepts such as “Excellence” or “the best.” We need to differentiate “perfection” from “excellence.” With “complete” in perfection and nothing to add or subtract, we tend to forgo the option of “further improvement.” Excellence is the quality of excelling at something. In excellence, there remains a scope for further improvement. Perfectionism has been linked to a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Research has shown that individuals who exhibit high levels of perfectionism are more likely to experience negative emotions, such as shame, guilt, and frustration, when they find the outcomes below their standard of perfection. Perfectionists often set unrealistic standards for themselves and are critical of their performance. This can lead to a state of self-doubt and anxiety, as they are never satisfied with their achievements. The pressure to be perfect can lead to a fear of failure if the outcome is less than complete. Perfectionists often avoid taking risks or trying new things out of fear of not meeting their high standards. This can limit their growth and potential, as they will not innovate, reinvent themselves, or take risks. In a way, accepting imperfection leads to greater creativity and innovation. When we focus on perfection, we may limit our creativity and be less willing to take risks or try new things. However, when we embrace imperfection, we open ourselves to new possibilities and ideas. To do this, try setting time limits for tasks and prioritizing your to-do list; focus on completing the most important tasks first rather than getting bound in small details. In addition, learn to delegate tasks to others and trust their abilities to complete them. Some of the physical and chemical concepts include, in their names, the word “perfect.”[2] Physicists designate it as a perfectly rigid body that “is not deformed by forces applied to it,” knowing fully well that this is a fictitious body, that no such body exists in nature. A perfectly plastic body is deformed infinitely at a constant load corresponding to the body’s limit of plasticity. This is a physical model but not a body observed in nature. A perfectly black body completely absorbs the light falling upon it, but that never happens. A perfect fluid is incompressible and nonviscous, but such a fluid does not exist in nature. A “perfect” gas means where molecules do not interact with each other and have no volume of their own. Such perfect gas is fictitious, just as when “perfect” is used for solid, rigid, plastic, and black bodies. They are termed “perfect” in the stringent (nonmetaphorical and nonliteral) sense. These concepts are necessary in physics, as they set the extreme, which nature may at the most approach. In a looser and subjective sense, real things are called “perfect” if they are perfect approximately, although they may not, strictly speaking, be perfect. In real life, “perfect” actually means “nearly perfect.” When you say he is a “perfect professional,” it also means he strives to keep improving. This implies that his present state is “approximate perfection.” Hence, in a way, 100% perfection does not exist. It may well be approximately 100% perfection because the scope for further improvement has to stay. In the dynamics of life, one who stops striving for improvement tends to regress. One of the elements of perfection is health, which the WHO defines as “a state of complete physical and mental well-being.”[3] It is difficult to imagine a “complete” state of well-being. What it means is striving for a complete state of well-being. The concept of perfection revolves between “ideal” and “approximation.” Taking this concept into day-to-day life, if “perfection” is akin to “approximate perfection,” calling somebody 100% perfect or 110% perfect or putting in 100% effort or 110% effort or (ridiculously) 200% effort makes no sense. Nothing can be more than 100% since 100% means “complete.” Let us examine this from the point of view of outcome or result. If we take an average prudent person, his 100% perfection means his best efforts. Such a general statement from him is well understood. However, if he takes it literally and tries to achieve a flawless 100% outcome, the outcome may be affected adversely. What is meant by this paradox? For an average person, 90% of perfection will come easily with his regularly inculcated efforts. The remaining 10% are difficult and require extraordinary efforts. How this extra 10% is achieved? For the next 5%, he will have to make an extra effort, and it may take an extraordinary amount of time, energy, and money, depending on the nature of the task. This will add some degree of stress and strain also. Going beyond 95%, for each 1%, the efforts needed will increase exponentially. It will take a proportionate toll on his time, energy, and money, translating into the amount of stress and strain because of these extraordinary efforts. What happens to the outcome? With 90% effort, the resultant outcome may be 88%–89%. With 95% effort, the outcome may improve but only by 1%–2% and reach 90%–91%. With each additional 1% effort added, the outcome may improve, but only by 0.1%–0.2%. For achieving this extra percentage of the outcome, there is bound to be significant stress and strain added. This negative effect (on time, energy, money, and mental stress) at times is much more than the positive effect achieved on the outcome. Given all this, the optimum situation would be to put in 90% effort and then add a further 10% effort in a relaxed manner, without much stress and strain. This way, the outcome will be almost similar, with little stress and strain and less compromise on the efforts made in terms of the time, energy, and money spent. It is advisable, therefore, to accept the philosophy of approximate perfection rather than go for complete perfection. The outcome will likely be good without compromise if we use this model. It is advisable to understand these concepts for use in daily life to minimize stress and strain and conserve time, energy, and money on extraordinary efforts without materially affecting the outcome. This is one way of work–life balance, worth considering. We try so hard to achieve an ideal in our lives that is next to impossible.[4] There is no perfect body, perfect parenting, perfect job, perfect life, perfect doctor, perfect treatment, perfect surgery, or perfect outcome. We cannot have a 100% perfect, problem-free, stress-free life. Unexpected problems can happen, unknown factors can influence performance, and the limitations of the human machine at that particular moment can adversely affect the outcome. No one is meant to be perfect in any sphere of life, whether it’s our body, relationships, personal growth, habits, jobs, careers, or our efforts to treat our patients. In a “perfect” world, everything will become stagnant. There will be no growth or evolution. That is not good. There should always be a scope for improvement. It is only through our mistakes, missteps, and failures that we learn and grow. If we follow this philosophy, it will be easier for us to manage even difficult and complex problems in life, conduct with prudence even difficult and complex surgeries in our ORs, and handle even difficult and complex situations that come our way in any environment. If the “mistakes” or “failures” or “less than perfect outcomes” are taken to heart, we will not be able to improve and grow. Our decisions will become questionable, and our confidence will become shaky. Instead of taking them to heart, one only needs to sit back, think, and introspect, and, if required, discuss with others to do a course correction for the future. It is a refreshing way to view life. To allow ourselves to make mistakes is a relief, whether it is our food plan indiscretions, getting into a difficult relationship with a family member, expressing emotions to a close friend, reinventing a new career path, or experimenting with a new hobby, knowing fully well, that mistakes are likely while trying to master these. These “mistakes” allow us to introspect, incorporate feedback, and chart a new course. The idea is not to commit mistakes and blunders wilfully. Doctors, especially surgeons, know too well the possible consequences of “mistakes” in surgery. The rational approach is striving for perfection but not considering yourself perfect in the literal sense. Make the best efforts and then strive for further improvement. Do the audit and introspection at appropriate times for improvement, but accept that 100% perfection can still not be obtained. That will give us peace of mind and stress-free handling of ourselves in a life full of ups and downs, including our medical/surgical life which is full of complications, risks, deaths, litigations, and even difficult/aggressive clients. When we are too obsessed with perfection, there is a chance that some basic steps may be missed. Pursuing perfection, we focus on the minute details and think a few steps ahead. While constantly focusing on a “few steps ahead,” we still might miss some initial steps. We should maintain a balance of mind, have confidence in ourselves, and perform our best rather than striving to achieve flawless perfection. The paradox of perfection is a complex concept that challenges our traditional beliefs about success and achievement. While it’s important to set high standards for ourselves, an obsession with perfectionism can lead to anxiety, self-doubt, and burnout. By embracing imperfection and focusing on progress rather than perfection, we can achieve our goals without sacrificing our mental health and well-being. Remember, no one is perfect, and that’s okay.
Source: Haryana Journal of Surgery
DOI: 10.4103/hjs.hjs_5_25
Author: P. K. Kohli
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409441726