A True Perfectionist
by Alan
Cohen
 A friend of mine declared, "I used
to think I was a perfectionist. I found the tiniest flaws in everything. Then I
realized I was not a perfectionist at all; I was an imperfectionist! If I was a
perfectionist, I would see perfection wherever I look."
The life we experience is the
product of the vision we use to interpret events. At any moment we can see
through the eyes of appreciation or criticism. And we will see more of whatever
we are focusing on. We master the game of life by finding good wherever we look.
And there is much good to be found.
While having lunch with some
business associates at an upscale restaurant, one of our party asked the waiter
for an unusual dish not on the menu. The waiter replied that he would ask the
chef to accommodate the request. Then another member of our group sarcastically
commented, "I’ll bet that will just tweak the chef’s day!"
But the waiter did not flinch.
"Actually," he replied smoothly, "I’m sure he will be glad to accommodate you --
this gives him a chance to shine."
Every situation gives us a chance
to shine, if we recognize our power as creative spirits. No situation is any one
way, except what we make it. You can make anything out of anything. So
why not make it perfect?
The story is told about a man who
was walking along a city street when a flower pot fell off a sill above him and
crashed at his feet, missing him by inches. There are four paths of response the
man might take. First, the path of knee-jerk reaction: he would yell a curse
toward the window or perhaps dash up the stairs, find the owner, and punch him
out. Second, the path of the victim: this experience would confirm his belief
that the world is out to get him, and he would go about the rest of his day
protecting himself from evil, retelling his story many times. Third, the path of
detachment: he would rationalize that this was his karma, do nothing, and just
keep walking. Finally, the path of love: he would go to the flower store on the
corner, buy a new plant, and deliver it to the person whose plant had been blown
off the sill by the wind.
Shakespeare declared, "There is
nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so." We see the world not as it is,
but as we are. Changing the world is not about setting it right, but
seeing it right. If you believe the world is broken and you need to fix
it, you will find more and more things broken. If you see the world as whole and
beautiful, you will find more and more things to celebrate.
Ram Dass noted there are three
kinds of people: those who say, "not enough!"; those who say, "too much!"; and
those who say, "ah, just right!" Actually, there are just two kinds of people,
for "too much" of one thing is really "not enough" of another. We are
continuously choosing between affirmation and resistance.
Does seeing perfection mean we are
to simply be passive observers and sit around and do nothing? Not at all.
Perfection includes the process of changing, growing, expanding, improving, and
moving ahead. But our actions to improve do not proceed from an attitude of
pushing against lack. They proceed from a sense that things are already good,
and wouldn’t it be a delightful adventure to make them better? The true
perfectionist creates effective change by seeing the highest possibilities and
becoming so excited about them, that conditions must rise to match the
vision.
Several years ago while I was
walking through the Los Angeles airport, I felt annoyed by the massive
construction going on. I saw ugly makeshift plywood walls to my left and right,
a maze of paint-laden scaffolds, and long winding detours to baggage claim. I
grumbled to myself about what a mess the place was, and how long it was taking
to fix it. Then I discovered a sign that stopped me in my tracks. It was an
artist’s rendering of what the airport would look like when the construction was
complete. It was magnificent! The glass atrium roofs, sleek marbled corridors,
and potted palms were a delight to behold -- a far cry from the current mess.
Then I relaxed. If that is what this is leading to, I thought, then I am glad
they are doing it. When I dropped my resistance, I enjoyed the process,
including the construction phase.
The entire universe is in a
construction phase, never totally complete as it is, but always perfect as it
unfolds. When you appreciate the beauty as you go, you become a true
perfectionist.
Recommended book:
 I Had It All the Time: When
Self-Improvement Gives Way to Ecstasy
by Alan
Cohen.
Whether you are a newcomer or a veteran on the path of self-improvement, I Had
it All the Time will awaken you to a life so magnificent that you will laugh at
the notion of improving what love made whole. Quit fixing yourself and get on
with the life you came to live.
For More Info or to Order This Book (paperback) or in Audio Cassette.
 About The Author
Alan
Cohen is the author of numerous popular inspirational books, including the
award-winning A
Deep Breath of Life. To request a free catalog of Alan's books,
tapes, and seminars, call 1-800-462-3013 or visit Alan's web site at www.alancohen.com.
For info on upcoming events, contact 455A Kukuna Road, Haiku, HI 96708,
(800) 568-3079, email:
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