In Pursuit of Perfection

Perfection – defined as an exemplification of supreme excellence; flawlessness or the quality or state of being saintly. I literally couldn’t describe any better the feeling, the glorification and dare I say idolisation I was after. However, such vivid dreams and imaginations stay in our heads – and rightfully so.

When I joined From the Minds of Barbara and Craig Geoff mentorship programme, I was excited and looking forward to acquiring more knowledge in the field of research, as I’ve had very little exposure to it. With great enthusiasm, I entered uncharted waters. What had once been a burning desire, something that once felt far from me, now seemed more tangible than ever before.

At the roll-out of my first task, the main thing on my mind was: “You must blow their minds away! This must be perfect!” And so, the pursuit of perfection began. The more I tried, the more I realised I didn’t know anything. The more I read, the more questions I had. The more things just didn’t make sense. The more perfection became a myth. A goal I was chasing but couldn’t quite reach. I wasn’t ready to face that yet, and so the pursuit continued.

Sometimes, it’s in the pursuit of perfection that we miss the gems along the way – the little milestones we are meant to meet. Yet in other times, that very pursuit is what helps us to realise and accept that we are not gods, nor are we flawless. For me, that realisation was honestly a relief more than anything.

It was a humbling experience that taught me to extend grace to myself and to understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day- or even a week, in my case. You see, perfection is a myth. What is real are mistakes, growth, a deeper understanding and appreciation for research. Extending grace to oneself and to others. I can’t lie and say I no longer wish I were perfect; however, what is far more exciting is looking back at this journey and seeing the growth and the impact it has had on my life.

– Minenhle Sokhela