We don’t abandon our pursuits because we despair of ever perfecting them.
—Epictetus, Discourses, 1.2.37b
Psychologists speak of cognitive distortions—exaggerated thinking patterns that have a destructive impact on the life of the patient. One of the most common is known as all-or-nothing thinking (also referred to as splitting). Examples of this include thoughts like:
- If you’re not with me, you’re against me.
- So-and-so is all good/bad.
- Because this wasn’t a complete success, it is a total failure.
This sort of extreme thinking is associated with depression and frustration. How could it not be? Perfectionism rarely begets perfection—only disappointment.
Pragmatism has no such hang-ups. It’ll take what it can get. That’s what Epictetus is reminding us. We’re never going to be perfect—if there is even such a thing. We’re human, after all. Our pursuits should be aimed at progress, however little that it’s possible for us to make.
* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman