Perfection is unattainable. No matter how hard we try, we will always fall short. Initial progress comes quick and easy, but as we progress, the time and effort to make similar gains becomes exponentially harder. To get a task to 50% complete may take less effort than the final 10%.

Chasing perfection is like trying to find the end of a rainbow. As we approach it, it shifts just a little further. The problem is that perfection is subjective. My perfect will not be the same as your perfect, nor will my perfect stay the same over time. This is true for exercise, family, relationships, careers, financial, or attainments of any kind.

When we attempt to reach our goal, our efforts change us, thus what we now perceive as perfect has also changed. So, we set a new goal, one that is ‘truly’ perfect and then start the process over. We end up stuck in an endless loop of goal revision, one that can stifle all forward progress.

Have you ever had the experience of coming to the end of a long productive day, looking back over what you have done and feeling completely dissatisfied with what you managed to accomplish? You know you can do better, and you should do better. Friends and family tell you that they could never hope to do as much as you, but you feel like you could do more.