The myth of true perfection is debunked by Dr. Silverfish’s logic that doing anything is likely to result in some transgression. True perfection, therefore, involves doing nothing at all, other than closely monitoring yourself doing nothing indefinitely. Trying to reach perfection is isolating and insular, but the lure of being perfect is strong. This is especially true for those with low self-esteem who imagine that everyone else is “perfect” in comparison to them and that life would be easy if they were not “themselves.”

Milo lacks confidence at the beginning of his journey, but after following steps one and two—which build resilience and willpower, respectively—Milo’s self-confidence blossoms. Milo stands up to his classmates and a bully, letting them know that he does not need to change or explain himself to them. He also accepts parts of himself that he previously wanted to change. For example, Milo knows he is not good at baseball, and he focused on this “failing.” Once he stops worrying about his imperfect skills and focuses on how much he enjoys the game, his playing improves, and he enjoys the game even more. When Milo reminds himself that “No-body’s perfect” (57), he is able to accept his shortcomings; he appreciates that even the “best pitcher in the world” (46) —something he dreamt about becoming, —will still make mistakes.