ANIMAL CROSSING: New Horizons broke Nintendo Switch sales records after its release in 2020 and became a place of tranquility for many during the pandemic. I found out, however, that the game did not offer me the same peace as it did for others. As someone who always wants to get things right, I found the task of designing my own virtual island to be a source of stress rather than relaxation.
After weeks of fixating on every single detail of my island and comparing my progress to that of others, I had to ask myself why I have spent so much time stressing out over the game (even if I already knew the answer). It’s not the first time my need to do things perfectly has detrimentally affected me. For as long as I could remember, I’ve had this internal pressure to do well in literally everything I do. Whether it was for better or for worse, it has been a key player in forming who I am today.
On the one hand, my need to do good is a major source of my determination and drive. It has made me meticulous about the things I do and it has taught me to be more cautious and sensitive when interacting with others. On the other hand, the internal pressure has been a source of many insecurities and stressors for me. It has caused me to be unreasonably harsh on myself, to be impatient with my own growth. I have broken down in the past due to single-digit mistakes on quizzes. I have also spent many days and nights unable to be productive ironically because of my frustrations towards myself for not being productive enough.
I know, however, that I am not alone in my struggles of trying to be perfect. Though you may never have studied your penmanship letter by letter to improve it like I have, you have probably also broken down due to the feeling of not being good enough. It’s quite unfortunate that many, including myself, show more patience towards others’ mistakes than to their own.
Back when I was in the fifth grade, my homeroom adviser told me something that shook my world. She said, “Practice makes progress.” I was astounded hearing those rather cliché words. Despite its simplicity, it’s a message that has stuck with me for the past 10 years and it’s an important reminder for all of us who feel the need to be perfect. We have a tendency to focus solely on results rather than the process of things, and as cliché as it sounds, but life should really be about the journey and not the destination.
It’s healthy to pressure yourself to succeed, but once it prevents you from enjoying the process of growing—or, in my case, enjoying a life simulation game—it’s time you take a step back and reconsider your attitude towards imperfection. It’s time to practice having more patience with yourself. Practice determining what is actually worth your time and energy, what is worth stressing over. And practice allowing yourself to enjoy things even if they aren’t perfect. May it be about an unfinished virtual island or your actual growth as an individual, allow yourself to go through the process without feeling that you have already failed.
