Recently the pastor at my church spoke on a topic I blog about all the time, perfection.  He reminded us that when the Bible mentions “perfection” the English translation often misses the mark, badly.

In fact, the biblical idea of  “perfection”, more often than not, should translate as maturity, growth, and learning from our actions.

He then highlighted how the Sochi Olympic Games were marred by President Putin’s own obsession with flawlessness.  It’s ironic since athletes’ perceived effortless skills are actually acquired only after years of painstaking effort.  What looks like a flawless performance is backed by countless hours of flawed practice.

At Velocity we emphasize the importance of recognizing perfection for what it is, a debilitating perspective and inclination.  But we do not stop there.  We work with our clients to embrace a personal and professional experimental ethos.

I would like to share three steps you may employ to overcome your perfectionist streak:

Admit You have a Problem

If you fail to try for fear of failure, you may be a perfectionist.  If you set modest goals, never really raising the bar in an effort to test your capabilities, you may be a perfectionist.  If you cannot enjoy your achievements because you are too busy chasing the next goal, you may be a perfectionist.  If you think everything comes easily to those who achieve, you may be a perfectionist.

Get Help

If you think you may suffer from this behavioral malady, consider hiring a coach.  At Velocity we teach our clients techniques and skills designed to challenge the belief and break the habit of a 10.0 life.  The experimental ethos we inculcate is designed to take the client through a bevy of creative and effective anti-perfection exercises.

Imperfection is a Public Good

Our culture worships the “perfect marriage”, the “perfect job”, the “perfect kids,” etc.  We do not, however, have to buy into these false choices between totally flawed and totally perfect.  Think about it this way, the world sometimes needs a Putin to remind us of the value of a President Obama.

Thank God nobody’s perfect!

This week try something brand new, and if you fall flat on your face, dust yourself off knowing that success is messy, but well worth the practice.  Instead of striving for perfection, just practice, and keep on practicing.

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If you have any questions about coaching please feel free to contact me at scott@kineticcoaching.co, and remember I always offer a complimentary 30-45 minute session to prospective clients to determine if we want to work together.