The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University

Perfection as a guiding starOne of the problems in actively seeking the good is that many of us have atendency to envision only the extremes, and to be dissatisfied with anything else.In the case of the good-bad axis, many people act as if unless they reach perfection(the extreme end of goodness), they have failed (that is, they are bad).An antidote to this toxic way of thinking involves a metaphor: The ancientmariners used guiding stars to navigate toward their destination. But they did notexpect to ever reach those stars. Similarly, the images of what we (or our lives)would be like if perfect can serve as very useful guiding stars. These images ofperfection can take us closer to our desired destination, and help us get back oncourse if we stray. And, throughout our lives, they can help us reach the portstoward which we set sail: good grades in school, lasting friendships, satisfyingjobs, happy homes, a peaceful death. They only become harmful to us if we expectto actually reach and remain forever after in a state of perfection on this earth. Asfar as I know, that is not possible. But I know that it is possible to spend shorterand shorter periods of time in the midst of emotional pain, and longer and longerperiods of time at peace. Toward this end this book is dedicated.HMOR.July2005.Muñoz.doc 28