by Greg Johnson

Created on: April 27, 2009   Last Updated: April 29, 2009

Is this a perfect world? First, for it to be a perfect world, perfection needs to be achieved.

Second, can perfection be achieved? To achieve perfection, first clarify what perfection is. Webster's dictionary describes perfection as the act or quality of being perfect. Sounds easy, it must be, listen in to conversations at the water cooler at work, or the break room or anywhere people gather, someone will claim the title, Mr. or Mrs. Perfect.

Narrowing the definition down, perfect as described by Webster's dictionary is being without fault or defect. Wow, tall order there. So to be perfect or attain perfection, there can be no fault or no defect. I'll repeat, no fault or no defect.

With perfection defined and understood, the journey to perfection is one-step closer.

How to achieve perfection; How to go through life, never make one mistake, do and complete everything without fault or defect, all work projects, attain the perfect look, act perfectly, speak perfectly. Scary, this journey to perfection; it's as if one were going to cliff-dive into a pool of water and not knowing the depth of the water below.

Wow, perfection is a tall order. Fear not... At this point, a quote is appropriate, Salvador Dali once stated: Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ~ Salvador Dali.

Perfection is unattainable, absolutely and undeniably, so why assemble letters into a word with a meaning that is unattainable? Did God or a twisted scholar invent the word, knowing the effects: driving half the world into neurosis? A neurosis either caused by the fruitless attempt to attain perfection or listening to the boors bragging about the perfection of their lives that we all know is impossible.

Look at these two types: The boors and the obsessive. The boors believe beyond a reasonable doubt that they are perfect. They have no reason to doubt there own perfection because they are generally delusional. Watch them closely and the conclusion will come easily, they do nothing; well, almost nothing. Except brag about all the perfect, wonderful things they have done. Except they've never done them. It's all smoke and mirrors, diversionary tactics to turn the attention from their imperfections to the ridiculous stories they tell.

Look at the obsessive; most of the rest of us fall into this category. Pounded by the media and common perceptions into believing our looks, goals, accomplishments, friends, employment and achievements, all need to be perfect. It'll never happen.

They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds. ~Wilt Chamberlain

This quote describes adequately the frustration the majority of people feel, driven to perfection by the media. Our parents drive us to perfection, who in turn were driven by the media and their parents to drive their children to become the perfect scholar, to become the perfect football player, to become the perfect artist, to become the perfect dancer, to become the perfect human and while all this occurs, we drive ourselves perfectly insane.

The pursuit of perfection leads to insanity, obsessions, low self-esteem, unhappiness and a large pharmaceutical bill, either legal or illegal.

No this isn't a perfect world, nor will it ever be. But since birth we're driven to make it one.

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing. ~Harriet Braiker

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