Tuggings - Why do we strive for perfection when perfection is a dead end?

Why do we strive for perfection when perfection is a dead end?

A perfect thing or state has to be static and cannot change. Therefore perfection is stagnation and not a desirable thing. So, why do we strive for it when we could be striving for a state of being where all otions to progress are open to us.

Public Comments

If we achieved perfection we wouldn't be happy and our goal would then get higher and more unachievable - that's life!
You are already perfect. You are a part of a perfect and all loving God. Life is just a dream that we have to see what it would be like if we were not perfect. love and blessings Don
I am not sure where you get this thought process, but the only one that is perfect is Jesus Christ, God's Son. We as people, will never experience perfection, we will only experience perfection once we get to Heaven, and the way to get to Heaven is through Jesus.
Perfect is not necessarily static. And stagnation is not necessarily undesirable. And few people actually strive to perfection. But, many do because, though they know they may not ever achieve it, having an impossible aim keeps them on a constant road of self improvement. If your goals are lesser, then when you achieve them you will stop. But if your goal is unattainable, you will always strive for it.
Sods law I suppose... Be happy and imperfect, but get looked down on by the 'perfect' members of society who are unhappy.
Perfection doesn't need to be like that. Just because we achieve all our drreams, doesn't mean we can't wake up one day with a brand new dream that we never had before.
for those who seek perfection, there is no rest this side of the grave (old assasin proverb)
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work....and also.... there's no profit where no pleasure is taken. There's no end to pleasure, enjoy! Sapere aude!
We call perfectionism the 'P' word in our family. I am the eldest of 3 children and have developed an OCD because of trying to do everything perfectly. If I write the date messily on a piece of paper, I tear it out and start again and will do this over and over again. I can never finish my exams because I try to write too neatly. I just can't help it. I have to bleach the bathroom and bath and can't shower or go to the toilet in public places unless it is absolutely spotless (and I have disinfecting wipes in my bag). Because of this, which makes my life almost unbearable, we encourage my younger sister (13) and brother (11) to just get things done well and not perfectly. I encourage my pupils in my class to have legible writing but there is no need for 'perfect handwriting'. It has made my life SO difficult that I try my utmost to ensure my family steer clear of the awful 'P word' and just get things done!!!
Well, every man has his project. We need a goal in life, something to aspire to. If it is perfection, then i say go for it. Might be a little disappointed, but what the hey?
You know what the first thing Jesus would always say right after healing someone? "Go and sin no more" As for me: Jesus is so pure and God's face so radiant, that I want to strive to be at least a teeny tiny bit worthy of His ultimate gift and the opportunity to be in His presence!
Perfection means different things to different people in different contexts. The point you mentioned above about perfection being stagnation does not apply to every usage of the word.
True, true. We all have things we hope and want to achieve. My current project/level is to change something which has hampered 'normal' life progress from birth, and I doubt I can achieve it without a lot of work and sacrifice on my part whereas other people constantly ask me when it will happen assuming there are no barriers to overcome. I actually just strive always for a point which will open up the possibilities which should have been available to me from birth. To be able to walk without running out of breath in cold weather, to be able to put my education into some sort of career path etc. Unfortunately we all have burdens which prevent us from doing what we would ideally like to be doing (mine at the moment is a heart/lung transplant) which is made worse due to a fear of hospitals which has come about because of previous treatrment and doctors only ever talking to my parents (you'd think at 34 they'd want my opinions on it wouldn't you?) and the point of life is to find a way to make our goals come true within a given (but not to us) time frame. I think that as long as you do your honest best given your circumstances then you will achieve perfection or at least get a level closer to it in your next life.
Why does a perfect state necessarily has to be static? It appears to me that your own vision of a perfect state would be a dynamic state of perfection, namely one where all options to progress are open to us. It is not contradictory in itself that something perfect can change, since this ability to change can be part of it's perfectness.
an excellent question! it is very true that human beings ceaselessly strive for perfection in a world where perfection is not only impossible, but, as you described it, possibly not even desireable. the only answer i have is that it is a sort of adaptation. an behavioral adaptation of an animal of higher thought that causes us to pay meticulous attention to the evil, bad, and imperfect as a way to make sure we achieve advancements wether it be a simple advancement of a better leaf nest, in the case of our long dead ancestors, or the polio vaccine. although it is true that this mentality seems to cause undue stress, in my opinion, we owe all our great advances in technology and possibly even art and culture to this idea that we must make our world 'perfect'.
We dont strive for perfection, we strive for happiness.....
I'm not sure it actually exists in the form which you describe. If you're talking about perfection as a perfect state then perhaps it does change or perhaps perfection is hidden within the seeking and we just can't see it clearly. Perhaps perfection is the knowing? Anyway lol I can't answer this. But I had a good try and I expect there is some sort of perfection in that. At lease one we can tolerate.
we dont strive for perfection we just try to come as close as we can
perfection is seen as this great thing. people want to achive perfection to prove to themselves they can reach this great thing. in my opinion some people see perfection as i deseriable thing so i disagree with you when you say: "and not a desirable thing"
I see what you mean about "stagnation", to be "perfect" is to be in a state of "stasis" or stagnation. However to take that a bit further, wouldn't a "perfect state" also include the ability to avoid stagnation.? Anyways,I digress into an "imperfect" answer... I believe,Try as hard as we may for perfection, the net result of our labors is an amazing variety of imperfectness. We are surprised at our own versatility in being able to fail in so many different ways. With this "failure", knowledge is gained. Because,we should Aim for success, not perfection. I Never give up my right to be wrong, because then I would lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with life. As Salvador Dali said "Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. To Quote Micheal J. Fox :" I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business.
You're just playing semantic games. For most things worth pursuing, perfection is unobtainable. You still strive for it because it is better than what you are currently capable of. Striving for 95% of perfection really just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Hope where there is no hope.
I was wondering the same thing this morning http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjzQjUYRKgFI9DPODsBNIKaGxQt.?qid=20070330092314AAUcKOx I disagree that a perfect thing is not static or changeable. Look at the answer from "Robert David M" on my question. He gives a really interesting definition of what perfection is.
we can not know that perfection is a dead end until we reach perfection. hence why we continue to strive for perfection.