The "Good Enough" Manifesto: Escaping the Optimization Trap
The modern world is obsessed with the word "best." We are constantly told to become the best version of ourselves, to find the best productivity hacks, and to live our best lives. This relentless pursuit of perfection has turned everyday existence into a high-stakes performance. We have become so preoccupied with optimizing every micro-detail of our lives—from our morning routines to our sleep scores—that we’ve forgotten how to actually live them.
The problem with seeking the "best" is that it is a moving target. It creates a state of perpetual dissatisfaction because there is always a newer, better, or more efficient way to exist. To reclaim our sanity, we need to embrace a different, humbler standard: Being Good Enough.
The Paralysis of Perfection
Perfectionism is often disguised as ambition, but more often than not, it functions as a form of paralysis. We delay starting a project because the conditions aren't perfect. We hesitate to publish a thought because it hasn't been polished to a mirror shine. For many, the real reason a project never ships isn’t lack of talent—it’s fear, usually dressed up as standards.
Embracing "Good Enough" isn't an excuse for laziness. It’s more like strategic prioritization. It is the realization that 80% completion today is infinitely more valuable than 100% perfection that never leaves your drafts. I’ve spent countless hours tweaking fonts and margins on documents that no one was ever going to see, just to avoid the scary part: actually putting the idea out there. By accepting a "good enough" outcome, you release the mental brakes that keep you from moving forward.
Strategic Mediocrity
In a culture of total optimization, being intentionally "average" in certain areas is a defensive strategy. You cannot give 100% to your career, your fitness, your relationships, and your hobbies all at once. Something has to give. If everything is a priority, nothing is.
Strategic mediocrity allows you to pick your battles. It’s okay if your home isn't Pinterest-ready, or if your workout was just a twenty-minute walk in your pajamas because you couldn't find the energy for the gym. As we explored in the concept of the
The Freedom of Lower Stakes
When you lower the stakes, joy has a bit more room to show up. Taking a "good enough" approach reduces the chronic anxiety that comes with constant self-evaluation. It shifts the focus from the outcome back to the process. You start doing things because you enjoy them, not because they contribute to a "better version" of you.
At least, that’s the theory. In practice, it takes a while to stop checking whether something is "worth it" or looking for a metric to track. It feels awkward to write a journal entry that is just a list of what you ate, or to build a hobby project that serves no purpose other than fun. This mindset is closely linked to using
Staying in the Game
Consistency is the byproduct of being "good enough." It is much easier to show up every day when you aren't demanding a masterpiece from yourself every time you sit down to work. Perfection is a sprint that leads to burnout; "good enough" is the pace of a marathon.
I’m still learning to be okay with a "B-" performance on days when an "A+" feels impossible. The goal isn't to reach some peak and stay there forever; it's just to stay in the game without losing your mind. Give yourself permission to be imperfect. The world doesn't need another polished, optimized robot—it could probably use a few more humans who are brave enough to be "good enough."
Post a Comment for "The "Good Enough" Manifesto: Escaping the Optimization Trap"