Introduction

Nothing fantastic is meant by the use of the word phenomenal. In this context it refers to anything which can be directly experienced by an individual. The word perfectionism is not used in the neurotic sense, instead it represents our continual striving towards an ideal state. Putting these two concepts together we arrive at Phenomenal Perfectionism, the attempt to realize an ideal state using only information gathered from our direct personal experience.

The phenomenal approach to perfectionism is in direct opposition to the more widespread authoritative approach in which one relies on a set of prescribed rules to guide their actions. While living according to a fixed set of rules certainly has its advantages, real life decisions require much more flexibility than this approach could ever provide.

Unfortunately, the challenge of making choices without an external authority is that it requires an understanding of what conscious beings are actually struggling to accomplish. The purpose of our lives within a sometimes seemingly random and overwhelming universe is elusive. Why do our choices and actions matter? So far history has only proved that this question is difficult to answer.

We often view our lives in reverse, identifying ourselves with past accomplishments and failures. In taking this view, there is no room for change and an individual becomes confined by their past choices and outcomes. A slightly better view looks to the present moment for sanctuary from an anxious mind fixated on the past. While it's true that bliss can be found in the present moment, the continuous search for meaning this way quickly devolves into an unsustainable search for immediate happiness.

The past should serve only as a guide to choices ahead. It does not define us. Awareness of the present moment is critical for self determination, but the present shouldn't completely occupy our minds. And the future is more than a sequence of events waiting to be revealed. In actuality, it is your true self.

Since trying to understand our purpose directly seems to yield little insight, an indirect approach might prove to be more fruitful. What if we inquire instead into the function of human consciousness? In other words, can we define exactly the problem human consciousness arose to solve? A modern view of the universe suggests that instead of a single future we have a multitude of potential futures branching off from every moment. With every choice we create many new possible futures for ourselves and discard countless others. This is the labyrinth the human mind has arisen to navigate. Our minds are probability engines facilitating the individual agency of consciousness.

With perfect knowledge of all past events, perfect wisdom of agency, and a perfect understanding of the problem our mind exists to solve, making choices in life would be an effortless task. Obviously, attainment of this kind of perfection is impossible for us to achieve. But if this is the case, what benefit can this framework possibly bring us? Surprisingly, we will find that in examining the ways we fail to achieve perfection we can develop a deeper understanding into the meaning of life we are searching for so desperately.

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