The concept of perfection has been trailed by various celebrities in the course of their career lives, however in the case of actress Demi Moore, the concept of perfection later became something she had doubts about. Coming to experience with time, the Hollywood icon has known that pursuing perfection can oftentimes restrain an individual, instead of empowering them. The way she puts across her views of the subject is indicative of an insightful approach that has been informed by experience, personal development and years of being in the limelight.
Moore still remains one of the most well-known characters in the entertainment world at the age of 63. It has been a long career time and long career has brought her a keen insight that many individuals do not have until they go through years of walking those expectations others place upon them. In a panel on perfection at the Kérastase “Power Talks event held at NYA Studios, Los Angeles on March 3, Moore recounted an event that completely changed the manner in which she approaches perfection.
The actress confessed that long enough she was striving to face the unseen norm of perfection. Similar to most of individuals who have a very visible job, she was under pressure to meet the standards that the society tends to glorify, yet they rarely have clear definitions of. Her thoughts however started to change following a chat that caused a memorable impression on her.
On a particular occasion Moore had someone say something so interesting about being perfect because she has definitely been stuck by the idea of striving to be perfect. The (they) said, Do you know anybody that is perfect? And I said, ‘No.’ [they said] Do you know something that is perfect? I replied, No, I do not know anything that is perfect. And he said, Well, why should you want to be no one and nothing?
The comment was straightforward yet effective to Moore. It made her stop and think again as to why she had put so much effort in pursuing something that was not really there. The concept of perfection that could in fact deprive one of individuality was something that appealed to her. The goal of perfection can further drive people toward the effort to be like an unrealistic image as opposed to encouraging them to develop.
Her experience in many aspects resembles that of many other people in real life. The expectation to be flawless is seen all over, in social media and at workplaces, as well as in personal relations. It is common that people will be motivated to show a perfect image of themselves instead of the real one. The thoughts of Moore point out the exhausting nature of such process over time.
Being an individual that has been under the pressure of the film industry and the global audience over several decades, Moore knows what strong these expectations can be. Hollywood has long been one of the places where the outlook, youth, and image are discussed as the aspects that establish the worth of the person. Throughout the years, numerous actors have talked of the emotional stress of feeling like they are always judged by unrealistic expectations.
The information provided by Moore implies that it would take a deliberate act to sever oneself with those expectations. She said that she has attempted to quit restricting herself according to regulations that society simply administers especially concerning age and sex. Such rules may be knitted in a way that determines the way individuals believe they are supposed to act, dress or even look like once they are at certain age in life.
I recall being informed that, Well, as you get old enough you ought to have your hair cut, you ought not to have long hair. And why that was that shared rule that existed I did not understand, she explained.
To Moore that sounded like a very queer thing to tell. It was an expression of a larger trend where the society tends to believe that age has to be accompanied by limitations. Most women especially are put under pressure on how they are expected to appear in old age either in terms of their clothing or hairstyles or the kind of lifestyle they choose to live. Moore had doubts as to why they needed such constraints.
And I thought to myself, well, who tells you that that is how it must be? Why not have it the way you think would best suit you, be the most beautiful, most comfortable, the most confident? So … I do not get it cut off, and I really like my hair, said Demi Moore.
Her view is symptomatic of a larger cultural change that has been gradually occurring over the recent years. There is a growing movement in which popular individuals are being vocal about not adhering to stereotypical standards of beauty and embracing individual identity. To most viewers, it is a credibility element that rings so well as a veteran actress speaks about these issues in such an honest manner.
Even the career of Moore is something that puts her thoughts in perspective. She became famous at a period when Hollywood tended to popularize the thin ideals of beauty and success. It was necessary to sustain one in such an environment and be resilient and adaptable. She has over the years played roles that were not expected of her and proved that she is a versatile performer.
Moore at this point of life seems not to be as much concerned with conforming to external expectations, but rather she seeks to establish her own sense of gratification. That change is indicative of confidence that usually accompanies experience. She has had her share of trends over the decades of being in the industry, as well as the pressures that come with the trends.
Her post also addresses a bigger discussion on the way society looks on aging, particularly among women in the entertainment industry. Although this has changed, there are age-related stereotypes. The fact that Moore would not consent to those restrictions is a minor but significant challenge of those outdated assumptions.
The manner in which she presents her point of view is reassuring in some way. Instead of letting herself appear as a person who has totally avoided the effects of the social pressures, Moore admits that she used to be a victim of them. The fact that she is honest is what makes her reflections relatable even to people residing way away that of the Hollywood spotlight.
