Meditations for Mortals - week one, day one
Meditations for Mortals (by Oliver Burkeman): A 4 week/28 day series with dailyish posts about the book
Week one - facing the facts of finitude
DAY ONE
It’s worse than you think
On the liberation of defeat
The most liberating, empowering, and productive step you can take, Burkeman says, if you want to spend more of your time on the planet doing what matters to you, is:
“To grasp the sense in which life as a finite human being - with limited time and limited control over that time - is really much worse than you think.”
He says that because our work can never be perfect, we might as well get on with doing the best work we can. I don’t think this is an invitation to lower our standards. For me, this is about getting started — and not letting perfectionism get in the way of doing something.
Recently, I was asked to accept some imperfection for a project I’m leading — the kind of imperfection that could be easily corrected. It made me pause. I think the goal is to always do the best work we can do —while recognizing that perfectionism often delays (or completely blocks) the work from starting in the first place.
James Clear (Atomic Habits) says it well:
“Most days mental toughness isn’t about crossing the finish line. It’s about getting to the starting line:
*Show up when no one is watching
*Keep your eye on the ball
*Do a little bit every day
Mental toughness is not skipping the days that are easy to skip.”
Burkeman adds,
“Our greatest achievements involve taking bold action, creating things, making an impact - now.”
I decided to put forward my best effort to get to the starting line in a new project that pushed me out of my comfort zone — asking me to explore my skills as a composer. Getting to the starting line — and staying there, sitting with what I initially viewed as questionable material — has been challenging.
Thankfully, I am starting to see the work strengthen. I am also realizing that without something in my hands, I can’t improve or ask for help. The material continues to grow, and I now have seven pages of newly created work - all from simply committing to show up. It hasn’t been easy to fight my perfectionist self the entire way. But viewing this process through the lens of imperfectionism has helped. This new work doesn’t have to be perfect —and that’s what has helped me get to the starting line (most days…).
Thoughts?
Have you ever wrestled with perfectionism or the hesitation to begin?
What helps you get to the starting line?