Article April 16, 1990 Issue

Spiritual perfection

To be good is one thing, but to be perfect—is that possible?

Kristin K. Fiuty

To want everything to be perfect (and to expect others to behave perfectly!) seems to be an almost universal desire. And yet imperfection (as seen either in one's own experience or in our expectations of others) is an almost universal frustration.

Why is trying to achieve perfection so frustrating? Perhaps because it seems almost impossible to achieve? Has anyone ever met a real person who has a perfect house, perfect physique, perfect spouse?

Should we even be trying to be perfect—and should we be expecting perfection from others? Or are we supposed to accept ourselves and others as we are, with all of our little "warts"/ imperfections? This would certainly be a lot less stressful, and it is the advice of many mental health professionals. This doesn't always work, however, as there seems to be a tremendous human yearning to be better. Does this yearning perhaps point to something inherent in all of us—an innate sense that perfection is possible?

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