“Gah! How could they?”
Your speech was so powerful and you covered all the points.
“The first prize goes to… Mr. Not-so-Perfect?! It gotta be rigged I tell ya.”
A darkening chill goes down your spine as they tell you it’s because you went overtime.
“After all that effort…” you glumly slump.
Well, well, well. How often do you tell yourself and hopefully not others, “I know I’m late but it’s because I wanted to make it perfect.”. How about the far worse, “I just take all this time because I’m a perfectionist.” The parasite of pursuing perfection takes over in disguise of something good till it literally becomes your personality. But isn’t that supposed to be a good thing? Oh that’s what I thought at first too! But to my surprise there’s something much more suitable for us to pursue: excellence.
“But I’m doing my best!”
Sounds counter-intuitive, sure, but the truth is: doing your best isn’t the same as getting perfect results. Rather, it’s about doing all you can to reach excellence and leaving the rest on Allah (SWT). He never lets a drop of your sincere efforts go to waste. So don’t sweat it – please! He’s got your back.
Better getting it well done than getting it perfect
After all, pursuing perfection like crazy can end in getting no results instead of the perfect results you were aiming for. The mountain of efforts needed in your head pressurises you before you set off. It makes you feel so overwhelmed that your brain panics for escape. And escape it does find, in the notorious enemy: procrastination. The duo of perfectionism with procrastination is perfect: a perfect recipe for disaster. So if you don’t wanna end up exhausted and in frustration, just click that ‘Submit’ button when you’ve got your work in excellent shape and let go of your anxieties.
Understanding Limits
Doing your best also needs to count for limiting factors. What are these? The 15 minutes you have before a friend reaches, the word limit on an essay and of course the time-bomb of a deadline are all limiting factors. These keep you on track so you don’t drown into the fantasy of getting everything perfect. Wisdom lies in recognizing the point of excellence and then swiftly moving on with a pat on your back.
Pleasing People to Please Allah (SWT)?
Interestingly, this same principle also applies to how you are with people as well. The goal is to treat them with excellence not perfection. Have you ever been in the situation where you maxed out yourself doing good for someone, above and beyond yourself, only for them to say it’s fake? How about the time they mocked how you cheerfully offered them a cup of tea minutes after they brutally humiliated you? You were left thinking, since I did it sincerely for the sake of Allah (SWT), it doesn’t matter what they say. Well, no doubt He is The Most Aware and All-Seeing of every action you do for His sake, big and small. Your reward surely is with Him, and He doesn’t waste a single drop of effort. But here’s where we need to huddle in and listen close…Our Most Appreciative and All-Knowing Lord says:
“And be patient! For indeed, Allah does not waste the reward of the doers of excellence.” [Quran 11:115]
Excellence, not perfection. Not to say that the times you strived with the goal of perfection won’t be rewarded, oh no, no! He is The Most Appreciate and Most Kind, Who knows best about the heart you put into it. Rather, it’s about having you take it easy. Your dignity and your person also has a right on you. Neglecting it in pursuit of perfection is an unbalanced approach.
Now what …
Please don’t beat yourself down upon it now, thinking all the good you do counts as nothing or went to waste. It’s just a redirection based on the Love Allah (SWT) has for you, not disregard for all you’ve been going through. He knows what’s best for us because He created us. Out of His Gentleness and Mercy, He wants to lighten your burden. So now let’s begin the journey to a new and improved you with this beautiful reminder:
“And Allah wants to lighten for you (your burdens); and the human was created weak.” [Quran 4:28]
