Living With Imperfection
abracad, · Categories: purpose, self helpAs imperfect beings living in an imperfect universe we inevitably, at times, find life a frustrating experience. Here's how to not only cope with life's inescapable imperfection, but to recognize the genuine beauty of its experience.
Imperfection is part of the great design and an inherent part of nature. Physicists believe the physical universe exists only due to the big bang's imperfection in producing unequal quantities of matter and anti-matter (known as baryon asymmetry). Put another way, if the universe had begun with perfect symmetry, we wouldn't be here.
The heights of human achievement and the incredibly rich diversity of life evolved only because living things reproduce imperfectly. They introduce random mutations along the way, some of which improve the status quo and allow things to get better.
A great wonder of the human experience is our uniqueness. We are each born into different (enormously varied) circumstances, with different characters, aptitudes, and weaknesses. But unhappiness arises from two distinct kinds of imperfection - the inner and the outer.
Inner imperfection means that we as individuals are flawed, in many ways. We need only glance at those judged most successful by society to witness their failings. Of course we are imperfect, we are but tiny specks of dust operating for the briefest instant when viewed against the scale of the universe. But exist we do, as wonderfully unique packages of strengths, weaknesses, and various other idiosyncrasies.
Outer imperfection means the world we inhabit doesn't always behave the way it should or we expect or would like it to. Not only are our fellow beings (reassuringly) every bit as imperfect as we are, but so is the universe we inhabit, by its very nature.
Being Imperfect
Imperfection is beauty, as in the asymmetry of nature. It is also opportunity, as in spotting the gap in the market that will yield your fortune, or at least keep food on your table. Serendipity describes the fortunate accident, the process where we stumble upon something beneficial by chance. One of the best known examples is scientist Alexander Fleming's discovery of the antibiotic penicillin (savior of countless lives) from neglecting to clean his Petri dishes.
The best strategy for living with imperfection is described by Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer (adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous)
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
Our innate character is the hand of cards we get dealt in the game of life. External circumstance is the hands held by other players. Both character and circumstance must be accepted, but the scope of free choice should be identified and played to the best of our ability. Recognize what is given and what may be influenced; within what may be influenced prioritize the goals on which to focus your finite efforts.
That's not to say we shouldn't strive for perfection, indeed our very purpose is to try to be the very best we can in whatever paths we choose to follow. But don't beat yourself up if achievement falls short of expectation. Pat yourself on the back for the many positives and, in due course, analyze where you fell short - not to feel bad about it, but so you can do even better next time around.
Yes, we are imperfect. Yes, we live in an imperfect world. But without that imperfection neither could we live at all, nor would there be any reason for our being.
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