Unveiled: The Unbearable Weight of 'Perfection'
Progress over Perfection needs Perseverance
“Progress over Perfection” - a phrase that goes viral no matter how many times it has been posted. Yet, a lot of these well-meaning phrases don’t seem to apply in reality, especially for historically marginalized groups. Many people, in many everyday contexts, feel the unbearable weight of knowing that failure in reaching perfection may mean failure, period. That’s why, as we continue to challenge the status quo, for real progress, it is just as important to be actionable in our ambition, looking beyond the well-intentioned memes.
When it comes to their lived experiences, even when they are not conscious of it, underrepresented groups feel the burden of knowing that failure in reaching perfection may mean failure at an individual level, in addition to failure to be a commendable representative of ‘their group’. They could be subject to ‘stereotype threat’ if they are underrepresented in a team - Stereotype threat is when individuals fear they may confirm negative stereotypes about their social group. This puts a disproportionate level of burden on the people who are in the room - who are being elevated as balancing representation of those groups. This contributes to issues that span much more than someone’s job. In 2023, as we are starting to emerge from the pandemic years, we see little change when it comes to levels of stress and anxiety. Nearly half of Gen Zs and four in 10 millennials feel stressed or anxious all or most of the time, with women and other under-represented groups most impacted.
We need to continue advocating for ourselves, and it is critical to continue advocating for equitable access to opportunities. But it is just as important to recognize our own needs and take a break, without feeling guilty. We should all recognize that sometimes perfection lies in the recognition of our human limitations and living to fight another day.
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." — Albus Dumbledore
Unveiled - Quick tip as we head into the long weekend in the US
Yes, that’s right - Be Kind to Yourself!