“Perfection” is undoubtedly an illusion for there is scope of improvement at every stage and in every completion. Nonetheless, still there is a continuous quest for perfection. It is probably this quest for perfection which is the source of motivation, thrill & successes and also disappointments & failures as well. However, my objective of this write-up is not to encourage or discourage the spirit of perfectionism. It is in fact an attempt to answer a different, probably more important question – perfection in what?
My limited understanding and experience of little more then 25 years journey of life has made me believe that there are 6 indispensable aspects (areas of perfection) of which “life” is all about :-
1. Health
2. Education
3. Money
4. Family & Friends
5. Society
6. Spirituality
The above list is, however, not in any manner a chronological list of aspects with respect of their gravity of importance. To my believe, all the aspects are equally significant and cannot override one another when it comes to their importance in life.
Now, if that is the believe (that all the above six aspects are equally important in life), which I take it as a foundation for answering my self-asked question – “perfection in what?”, then answer unmistakably is - “perfection lies in making a balance between all the six aspect”. But this answer, then again makes me raise another further question – “will that not, indeed, be a quest for averageness?” An attempt to achieve all, without strongly focusing on one, is a task of an average doer or a failure, as commonly called.
This jugglery of questions and answers has made me visualize few imaginary situations.
Suppose-
If I have all the money but no health, then will I be a success?
It I have all the health but no money, then will I be a success?
If I keep working on my spiritual aspect at the cost of other 5 aspects then will I be happy?
If I have all the five aspects except for a just & decent society will I be able to survive?
If I have no education, a loving family or if any of the one aspect is missing, will I have a complete life?
Without giving a specific answer to all the above self-asked questions, which is neither warranted nor uncertain, I would conclude - if quest for perfectionism is a quest for becoming ONLY rich, ONLY spiritual, ONLY healthy or ONLY educated, then I would rather prefer becoming an average or a failure with a desire to fulfill and make a balance between all the 6 aspects. I will dare to be an average.
One who is reading may not fully, or at all, agree with my conclusion. But the reader’s approval is not always an objective of all the write-ups and the same, probably, applies to this one also. However, it goes without saying that suggestions/comments are always desirable and welcome. :P
My limited understanding and experience of little more then 25 years journey of life has made me believe that there are 6 indispensable aspects (areas of perfection) of which “life” is all about :-
1. Health
2. Education
3. Money
4. Family & Friends
5. Society
6. Spirituality
The above list is, however, not in any manner a chronological list of aspects with respect of their gravity of importance. To my believe, all the aspects are equally significant and cannot override one another when it comes to their importance in life.
Now, if that is the believe (that all the above six aspects are equally important in life), which I take it as a foundation for answering my self-asked question – “perfection in what?”, then answer unmistakably is - “perfection lies in making a balance between all the six aspect”. But this answer, then again makes me raise another further question – “will that not, indeed, be a quest for averageness?” An attempt to achieve all, without strongly focusing on one, is a task of an average doer or a failure, as commonly called.
This jugglery of questions and answers has made me visualize few imaginary situations.
Suppose-
If I have all the money but no health, then will I be a success?
It I have all the health but no money, then will I be a success?
If I keep working on my spiritual aspect at the cost of other 5 aspects then will I be happy?
If I have all the five aspects except for a just & decent society will I be able to survive?
If I have no education, a loving family or if any of the one aspect is missing, will I have a complete life?
Without giving a specific answer to all the above self-asked questions, which is neither warranted nor uncertain, I would conclude - if quest for perfectionism is a quest for becoming ONLY rich, ONLY spiritual, ONLY healthy or ONLY educated, then I would rather prefer becoming an average or a failure with a desire to fulfill and make a balance between all the 6 aspects. I will dare to be an average.
One who is reading may not fully, or at all, agree with my conclusion. But the reader’s approval is not always an objective of all the write-ups and the same, probably, applies to this one also. However, it goes without saying that suggestions/comments are always desirable and welcome. :P
2 comments:
Hi Anuj Sir, I must say it is an interesting chain of thoughts you have embarked upon. One that brushes past a plethora of topics ranging from life, our attitude towards it and the goals we set for ourselves. As I understand it, through this post you have tried to convey how being a perfectionist in just one or two aspects of life is really not what perfection is all about. That perfection lies is creating the right balance. That if it comes to choose between perfection in one or two of such aspects or an average balance between all the aspects(albeit in a non-perfectionist way) you would choose the latter. And I second your thoughts because if we take an aerial view of a 'fulfilled life', we would find that it is based on aspects you mentioned..and the need is not to fulfil one and forget the other, but to create a synchrony between all, even if it leads us to being moderate in each of them.
That, in fact would be the true perfection in terms of the life that we lead. So, what should we be? Perfectly average or averagely perfect?!?
There is another thing that makes perfection an interesting topic to ponder over which is slightly off the mark here in this post but I may as well share it with you. :) An author once said that perfection is a moving target. It will never be stationary and so in a way don't many of us go about looking for something that's in fact boring, stubborn and conformist? I think if one has to strive then strive for excellence in what we do.. rather than perfection..for perfection is finite, subjective and conventional. And as I see it, excellence has various facets to it; excellence accepts the human limitations on one hand and it draws no boundaries. It encompasses perfection and still leaves enough space for our individuality and imagination.
@Niyaa
Hi Niyaa… now onwards I will also be calling you “niyaa” and secondly, “Anuj Sir” sounds too formal, too elderly, too professorial, and too too too-much, infact much-much… hai na? so now onwards, “ANUJ”… I know it sounds really very sweet, thank you so much :)))
And thank you … “thank you” for posting a comment in my blog because usually very few people visits my blog…. still fewer reads them…and nobody posts a comment :P
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