Motivology Matters

Do you find it hard to admit you are perfect? Always looking for imperfections? Where do we draw the line between being conceited and just being proud of who we are. The truth is, you are perfect. You are the perfect you. There may be room for growth and you should be always learning, but that doesn't change the fact that your individuality and your uniqueness make you perfectly you.

That being said, sometimes our striving for perfection gets in our way. Not being perfect is used as an excuse for not doing things. We feel that we are not good enough or that we can't make a difference because we are lacking in some skill or ability. If you set your mind to it you can make a difference and you should never feel that you are not good enough to achieve your dreams. Sometimes it is good to be a little conceited and know that you are great in your own way.

There is another area where perfection gets in our way, and that is in an attempt to not complete a project until it is perfect. I have seen people spend hours getting exactly the right color or getting "perfect" alignment on a graphic they are working on. I am not suggesting that you turn in sub-par work, but I am suggesting that there comes a time when trying to attain perfection on a project is overkill. While understand that some individuals are just wired to be bothered by an imperfection, I also understand that the need for perfection is a defense mechanism against criticism.

This defense mechanism provides an excuse to deflect criticism. It provides the ability to not produce, because it isn't "done" yet. By constantly working on it, no one can tell you what is wrong with the finished product. It also provides an excuse when you are forced to produce based on a deadline because you can tell people "I know it isn't perfect. I was still working on it, but, you know..deadlines." If your fixation on perfection is a defense mechanism, what you need to work on is getting better at accepting criticism.

When you complete a project and put it forth, chances are it will be judged. You need to understand that any criticism on a project is not usually an attack on you as an individual. People have different reasons for being critical. For some, they don't even realize it, they evaluate everything and provide an opinion. You need to make sure when this happens that you do not internalize the criticism and take it as positive input to improve your projects in the future. In most cases, the individual being critical cares about you enough that they want you to succeed. They want you to improve and be better person.

Remember, you are perfect, but you can continue to grow. Accept criticism as a stepping stone to that growth.