#BEDM14 Day 21 – Striving For Perfection Is Inherently Wrong

I disagree with this assertion, to an extent. It is not inherently wrong but as with all things, taking it too seriously can lead to wrongness.

Speaking as someone who himself is attempting to form a more perfect version of himself without quite so much body fat, then having something to strive for is paramount. The trick is knowing if what you’re striving for is achievable or whether it’s some sort of platonic ideal. Striving for something that is achievable with effort is sensible, desirable even. Striving for some sort of idealised version of something that can you can never physically make happen will eventually lead to heartache.

Set a goal, strive for the goal, achieve the goal, reassess. Rinse and repeat. Have an endpoint in mind, but don’t make the endpoint the goal. This will not only break things down into more manageable chunks, it will also mean you gain a sense of achievement by achieving those smaller goals.

Any psychologist will tell you, you don’t have to achieve something monumental to gain a sense of accomplishment and an increase in self-confidence in your abilities. To take an example, last night I was in a sulky mood and absolutely desperate to eat bad food and get on the outside of a bottle of wine, but I managed to stop myself. And that’s sometimes all it takes to gain a measure of achievement in your ability to master something, especially when the thing you’re trying to master is yourself.