If I told you to related that word to a personality, to a person… That person would probably be one that finds mistakes in everything: “The floor is too white”, “the paintings are not straight”, “the text has a mistake”. That sort of things are what you probably associate to a perfectionist.
I’m not going to say you’re wrong, but I just have a different concept; I take a different approach when I define myself as a perfectionist.
If I say perfectionism is the search for perfection… Why should I refer to an impossible state of perfection? Why am I looking for a different scenario than the real one? If the painting is not straight, why, looking for perfection, should I think in a reality in which the painting is straight? I mean… I do, it’s (I believe) normal to think about the painting being straight as a perfect state…
Also Read-How to Fix a Crooked Smile
Then there are two things to consider. First, there is a reality state; the way things are or could be. Second, there is a set of subconscious or unworded rules that each of us have that define perfection. I may believe perfection is when the painting is perfectly aligned to the floor and walls, but you may believe otherwise.
Could that set of rules change?
It’s not necessary to think about a possible perfect, yet hypothetical, state. That’s not necessary if you instead, change your perceptions, in a temporary way. It’s not really about changing them but to think, instead of an alternative state or reality, of an alternative set of rules.
Being a perfectionist doesn’t mean (at least to me), looking for what is missing or looking for mistakes, it’s about looking for perfection. While creating I think it’s normal, even useful to see those mistakes in order to “repair” them, but while not creating, but observing, while part of a perfectionist according to common conceptions, is not only seeing mistakes everywhere, but seeing perfection.
Not everything is perfect.
While it may seem that I’m a “everything is perfect” guy, I’m not. Not everything is perfect. In fact, most things are not. Yet I can find sets of rules that make some things perfect. Like those people who say nature is perfect by itself, I agree with them. And yet, to the eco-friendly people, who believe we are endagering the planet, the ecosystem and ourselves, I still believe the human being is a perfect creation.
That’s where I’m aiming with this, too. I believe some perfection resides in imperfect creations. The human body is perfect being imperfect. Because we need to consider the human race, the world as a whole and everything. It might sound creepy, ugly or just plain cold, but I believe than even with all the ways a human could die (at 100 years old, 50, 30, 2…), it’s perfect being that way.
Can you imagine how bad it would be to actually know when you’re going to die? Or is that more perfect? I’m open to thoughts on the matter as this is just how I see perfection and myself as a perfectionist. Do you think I’m right? Or that I’ just a positive “everything’s great” guy?