Ram Dass noted there are three kinds of people: those who
say, "not enough!"; those who say, "too much!";
and those who say, "ah, just right!" Actually, there
are just two kinds of people, for "too much" of one
thing is really "not enough" of another. We are continuously
choosing between affirmation and resistance.
Does seeing perfection mean we are to simply be passive observers
and sit around and do nothing? Not at all. Perfection includes
the process of changing, growing, expanding, improving, and moving
ahead. But our actions to improve do not proceed from an attitude
of pushing against lack. They proceed from a sense that things
are already good, and wouldn't it be a delightful adventure to
make them better? The true perfectionist creates effective change
by seeing the highest possibilities and becoming so excited about
them, that conditions must rise to match the vision. Several
years ago while I was walking through the Los Angeles airport,
I felt annoyed by the massive construction going on. I saw ugly
makeshift plywood walls to my left and right, a maze of paint-laden
scaffolds, and long winding detours to baggage claim. I grumbled
to myself about what a mess the place was, and how long it was
taking to fix it. Then I discovered a sign that stopped me in
my tracks. It was an artist's rendering of what the airport would
look like when the construction was complete. It was magnificent!
The glass atrium roofs, sleek marbled corridors, and potted palms
were a delight to behold-a far cry from the current mess. Then
I relaxed. If that is what this is leading to, I thought, then
I am glad they are doing it. When I dropped my resistance, I
enjoyed the process, including the construction phase.
The entire universe is in a construction phase, never totally
complete as it is, but always perfect as it unfolds. When you
appreciate the beauty as you go, you become a true perfectionist.
Alan Cohen is the author of the best-selling
The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore, the award-winning A Deep
Breath of Life, and the acclaimed Why Your Life Sucks and What
You Can Do About It. To request a free catalog of Alan's books,
tapes, seminars, and life-transforming Master Training in Maui,
phone 1-800-568-3079, visit www.alancohen.com, or write PO Box
835, Haiku, HI 96708.
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by Alan Cohen
