Trying to be excellent is great; trying to be perfect is not

There is a saying that “the enemy of good is better.” A similar one is “the enemy of good is perfect.” This is well known in various sectors, including in medicine. Surgeons, for example, know that they should perform at their best and operate with the highest quality possible.

But beyond a point, if they tinker too much, they can end up doing more harm than good. The quest for perfection can cause damage if taken too far.

Striving for excellence is a different story. Excellence considers the human factor while perfection doesn’t and can derail your best intentions.

Struggling for perfection results in inner turmoil, high frustration and self-rejection.

You’ve probably heard of the 80/20 rule. This is thought to have emanated from Italian mathematician Vilfredo Pareto. This idea means various things depending on your work or life circumstances. It basically goes like this: Approximately 20% of your efforts produce 80% of the results. Focus on 20% of those behaviors that give an 80% return.

Everything else is far less important. There are diverse ideas around this rule, particularly in business, but essentially this is what Pareto explained.

The fallacy of perfectionism is this: Believing that all your efforts will yield 100% returns is an illusion. Furthermore, chasing the carrot of perfection will only result in mental and physical fatigue diminishing your creativity, problem solving and efforts.

Consider these guidelines for greater joy as you apply this rule:

■ As Don Miguel Ruiz describes in the Four Agreements, “Always do your best, but know that your best changes day to day.”

■ Give yourself a break. Put in qualitative effort in what you undertake but have mercy on yourself in the process.

■ Commend yourself for your actions toward excellence. Reinforce your efforts.

■ Be realistic in your expectations. No one is perfect.