Do not teach your child to be perfect. Instead teach them to TAKE ACTION!
For a large part of my life, I grew up with the belief that one needs to aim for perfection ALWAYS!!
However, I can now confidently say that ‘Perfection’ is the biggest myth, the biggest illusion. It’s almost like a mirage in the desert which you keep chasing but never get to..because it never exists! I’d almost challenge the famous quote “Practice makes a man (woman) PERFECT” and rather say Practice makes a man (woman) consistent!
Here are my top three reasons why one should not aim for perfection:
1. AIMING FOR PERFECTION LEADS TO INACTION
When one is aiming for that perfect solution, you almost end up giving up because either you don’t find it or it takes too long. My mentor Siddharth Rajsekhar said this beautifully..Version 1 is better than version none!
It’s better to try, make efforts, get something out there which may not be perfect but at least it reflects the actions taken. It’s okay then to go back, modify, and continuously improve rather than get something out there which cannot be modified because you thought IT IS PERFECT.
It is better to take consistent action…and you may end up failing at times, but at least you fail fast, you learn from mistakes earlier and you course correct timely.
2. PERFECTION LEADS TO ‘BURN OUT’
Aiming to be the best in everything leads to non acceptance of failures. You almost feel you cannot be wrong because you had all the ‘right’ boxes ticked. Anything not the best makes a person feel ‘NOT GOOD ENOUGH’. When you keep putting extra pressure on yourself to sustain keep up with that myth that you need to be the best (or perfect) you stress yourself out – physically and mentally.
It’s okay to not have all the boxes ticked. It’s okay to not achieve all milestones. You will get some things right, you won’t get some things right. And its okay. You will achieve some milestones and you won’t achieve some. You will manage to do certain things and you won’t manage to do some. And it’s OKAY.
What’s not okay is that you did not try. What’s not okay is that in your hustle to be perfect you forgot to be kind to yourself and to others.
3. PERFECTION LEADS TO FRUSTRATION
Wanting to achieve EVERYTHING leads you to feel unsatisfied when you don’t achieve your milestones. And in trying to do that, you end up keeping false expectations from others to help and support you and when that does not happen you feel frustrated.
“Don’t bite what you cannot chew…”
- So instead of aiming for Perfection here is what I suggest:
- Prioritize your activities.
- Take time to relax and take care of your body and mind. Take frequent breaks
- Keep making consistent efforts, take baby steps and continuously improve.
- Instead of finding that perfect day and time to exercise, START NOW.
- Instead of that perfect plan for your work or business, take the first step.
- Instead of finding that perfect time to spend with your child, take out time NOW.
Sometimes perfectionism of parents can be intimidating for kids. They see and feel those standards being tough to meet and hence end up giving up even before trying. It is okay to sometimes be imperfect in front of your kids..it teaches them to embrace imperfections.
It’s okay to tell your kids if you don’t know something, but are willing to learn together with them! And when they come up with something which may not be perfect yet per your expectations, appreciate and acknowledge the effort so that they feel encouraged to keep taking action!
IMPERFECT IS PERFECT.
Book a FREE Consultation Call with me to know how you can get your child to be an ACTION TAKER!