Mejor Hecho Que Perfecto

“Mejor hecho que perfecto” means, ‘better done than perfect.’ My friend taught me this phrase. She was born and raised in Chile, and she also taught me that in Chile, Thursdays are charmingly known as “Viernes Chico,” or ‘little Fridays.’ Suffice to say, this girl has a great history of adages and I can pretty much expect gold from her now.

When I saw this phrase, ‘mejor hecho que perfecto’ adhered to her laptop with a sticky note, I had to know what was so important. It was like finding her mantra. She translated it for me, and I was immediately struck.

”Better done than perfect-” how mindful; how accepting; how empowering.

I knew I wanted to share it with you. Especially for those of us lean toward perfectionism, we tie our self-worth to the fruits of our actions. This is exactly what karma yoga warns against. Through attachment to outcome, one loses the spirit of the act itself. Moreover, one hesitates to self-express, and could refuse to pursue their goal entirely.

‘Mejor hecho que perfecto,’ is a reminder not to put so much weight in the perceived outcome of your work. Do not let your fear freeze you in your pursuit of creative enterprise..

“To action alone hast thou a right and never at all to its fruits; let not the fruits of action be thy motive; neither let there be in thee any attachment to inaction.”
-Bhagavad Gita

Before accepting the concept of ‘mejor hecho que perfecto’ into my life, I resisted launching this website, or the Instagram for @joygawithheather.

This article is not telling to disregard your attention to detail, organization, or standards. Embrace your love for productivity, but do not let it prevent you from doing the things you love!

What can this mantra help you with?

Making art? Showcasing that art? Singing karaoke with freinds?

Freedom of expression is your fundamental right. Sometimes I think we might police ourselves too much in conversation, in our own physical bodies, and in pursuing creative and professional goals! Sometimes our very hopes and dreams are like princesses locked in towers and we are the knights in shining armour that free them! 

”Mejor Hecho Que Perfecto”

P.S. Thank you, Claudia