Our relationship with the word perfection can be described at best as; complicated. A person who is a perfectionist is usually either too scared to try in the first place, or has some kind of neurosis that hampers any enjoyment they derive from their chosen task.
Most of the rest of us see it as modern magic, and we dwell in its presence so that we can bask in its unattainable glory.
Whether it is an author, sportsperson or historical figure that we view as either being perfect themselves or having created a perfect work, the word itself leads us to deify the creator of the moments which we deem to be perfect.
However perfection is not as mysterious as the human race has made it. In almost every culture on earth we see perfection as a rarefied adjunct to the hero or genius. When in fact the perfect state of mind is available to us all, we are continually surrounded by our own perfection. We simply need to look, or rather we need to know where to look.
Hitting The Target Ten Thousand Times In A Row
Do you think you could hit a target ten thousand times in a row?
...well when was the last time you missed your mouth with your fork while eating?
- Zen Golf
Dr Joseph Parent, the author of Zen Golf, makes the very valid point that we achieve perfection in the mundane task of getting our food from our plate to our mouths every single time without fail.
Indeed if you watch a child of two eat, you can see the foundations of what will later be perfection. They often fail to get any food at all onto their fork or spoon, and when they do it is not uncommon for a toddler to partially or even entirely miss their mouths!
When you are eating, you are not consciously thinking;
'OK, get some food onto the fork, not too much mind! Now bend the elbow and flex the shoulder joint... OK good, now start to open your mouth, bend forward slightly...'
However this is exactly what we do when playing golf, and the problem with adding conscious commentary to a physical action, is you are much more likely to mess it up, because you are getting in the way of your subconscious (intuitive) mind.
If you don't believe me, next time you have a meal try and consciously think about every single action you are making. Do that and you may just find that you actually miss your mouth with the fork!
Practice Makes Perfect
Many years ago in Japan an artist was doing a brush painting that some patrons had requested. A Zen master who was an expert at this art was visiting the area, so the artist eagerly asked him to come by and watch him execute his strokes
When asked his opinion of the painting, the Zen master said, "To be honest with you, it's rather mediocre". The artist took another piece of paper and made his brush strokes even more carefully. "What about now?" he asked.
"Sorry but that is even worse than the first." The artist tried again and again, but to his dismay the master's comments were growing evermore discouraging.
Finally the master said, "Excuse me, I need to step outside for a bit of fresh air when we continue."
The artist was delighted to be able to paint without the master looking over his shoulder and he went right at it so that he could finish before he returned.
As he made his last stroke, the master came in and said, "Perfection."
- Zen Golf (paraphrased)
Even though most people on the planet above the age of about six, have heard the maxim practice makes perfect, most of us still believe that the ability to perform perfectly is somehow genetically acquired.
When we look at Ronaldo or Messi, Einstein or Da Vinci, we don't marvel at how many thousands of hours of practice and learning the must have put in to achieve their greatness. We talk about how they were somehow destined for the heights that they achieved.
We don't talk about Da Vinci's pedestrian early works, or Einstein's failed papers, because that would somehow break the spell. Perhaps it is because we live in a world whereby mystery and magic is slowly disappearing as we illuminate them with the light of logic and science. Thus we need something to believe in, and what better magic to believe in than the perfection of genius?
The Perfect You
Whatever it is you want to be perfect at, it is simply a case of trying and trying, and trying again.
Perhaps that is the only one true thing that separates the geniuses of the world from the rest of us. Is that they have found something they love so much, that they are prepared to fail a thousand times in a row in order to attain their dreams.
So there lies the key, the road to perfection is simply practice, so much so that it becomes as automatic as scooping up some food with your fork, bringing it to your mouth and eating it.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE PERFECT AT? DO YOU WANT TO BE BETTER AT YOUR JOB? OR PERHAPS YOU ARE TRYING TO LEARN NEW SKILLS TO HELP YOU TAKE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION IN LIFE? PERHAPS YOU ARE A SPORTS OR GAMES PERSON THAT WANTS TO ACHIEVE PERFECTION?
AS EVER, LET ME KNOW BELOW!
Attaining Wisdom Through Golf series:
Attaining Wisdom Through Golf - Becoming The Fourth Cup
Attaining Wisdom Through Golf - Don't Think Of A Monkey: Overcoming Your Fears
Attaining Wisdom Through Golf - How Big Is Your Mind?
Attaining Wisdom Through Golf - Cutting Out The Anyways
Attaining Wisdom Through Golf - Body Fake It Till You Mentally Make It
Title image: Delano Balten on Unsplash