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The Progress Principle: Why we’ve got it all wrong
“Perfection is never the goal. Perfection doesn’t exist any way, and excellence is too subjective.
So what is the goal?
Simply progress.”
I often say this to my university students and to my daughter for the same reason: they are all very hard on themselves and pressure themselves to attain some maxim of achievement that does not exist…
except in their mind.
One of the major components of human society is the desire to achieve. Often, we see achievement as a gateway into acceptance and opportunity. It becomes this need, almost equivalent to physical safety. From my observations, many people, including my students and daughter exhibit the symptoms of stress and trauma in the pursuit of some goal.
Take notice of your own physical and behavioral reaction when you face a challenge. Do your muscles tighten? Do you pace around the room, sweat, fidget your hands and legs? Does your face tighten? Does your heartrate speed up and your breathing?
