Constant pursuit for perfection vs complacency
Autor: Luiz_Alex007 | Publicado: 2017-07-17T15:13:00-11:00

So, I was watching an Japanese animated series and a constant theme came up. The idea that everyone must always try to be the very best that they can. Even more, that the pursuit of perfection should be put above everything else. That complacency is the worst thing possible. Well, I disagree in many ways.

To start with, that comes off as a very Japanese, or Asian in general, take on life. "Must be the best or you are the last", "Must keep striving to be better", "Complacency is the warrior's greatest enemy". I suppose it has deep roots in several of their cultural traits. I think it's quite obvious to think of the Samurai and their endless pursuit of "bushido", a never ending odyssey for a subjective destination.

Which I partially admire. But I genuinely find it quite erroneous. It can easily be misguided and turned into overambition, a vicious cycle trying to achieve unattainable perfection. After all, the very idea of perfection is subjective. Hence, making it objectively impossible to achieve, always beyond one's reach.

As an hedonist, it can directly clash with my own beliefs. Sacrificing ones happiness and pleasure over something unattainable is in direct opposition of my constant ambition for said pleasure and happiness. Still, at the same time, it can tune it perfectly. For it can be seem as a pursuit for the same happiness and pleasure. It really depends on how you approach it. One can even put it in the same categories.

I always found it quite extremist. Confusing the goals with the journey, the forest by the trees. I see the whole point of trying to be the best as the happiness achieved while doing so. Pushing oneself too hard, surrendering more joy than what is to be gained, is inefficient. It's either masochism or mislead. I see that often and it never pleases me. It simply comes off as mistaken and arrogant. Pushing oneself to perfection should not overtake the seek for happiness.

However, like I mentioned, if the bliss achieved by doing so is greater than the one lost, it's completely valid. And it's always the individual's choice, for only each of us knows exactly what makes us glad. Accordingly, it's not something that I am intrinsically opposed to. After all, if one is happy, things are already doing fine. If that was achieved by pushing oneself to the limit, to the point of sacrificing smaller pleasures, it's dependent only on one's choice. 

With that said, I will reiterate, it's solely subjective. No point trying to push yourself to a point of sacrificing everything for a small margin of gains. It depends on the person. There is no more or less correct way of acting. It's dependent on one's perception of delight and how to achieve it.

The real problem is when those, who believe in this way of life, start disdaining those who do not follow the same path as inferiors. As if someone is inferior to them for not doing the same. As if their constant sacrifices somehow make them superior. In reality, they are just seeking joy in different manners. There is no objective superiority.

While some are glad being busy trying to achieve a mastery they shall never have. Others are more interested in enjoying life, regardless of being the best possible. I, personally, consider much more important to create situations of happiness and pleasure, the moving forces of our monkey brains. Which doesn't exclude enduring necessary pains to achieve it. But I try focusing on paying the necessary price, rather than overburdening myself in inefficient attempts.

Conclusively, it goes both ways. Nothing necessarily wrong in constantly seeking perfection. Nothing necessarily wrong in being complacent either. If that is what makes one happy, it's their choice. I genuinely accept both ways as different ways of approaching life. Depending on the situations, one can make a case for either or both ideologies. But it's completely subjective. No need for so much drama. We all experience different things, feelings and situations, which breeds different people. Different people means different tastes. It's inefficient to hold a monochromatic view, ignoring people's inherent differences. In reality, people are just asymmetrical. We all seek different similar objectives in different ways, enjoyment through different manner.