Peace. The opposite of perfection.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve pushed myself to do more, be more, and achieve more. It’s a mix of nature and nurture—a byproduct of being raised by wonderfully human Indian parents.

When I stepped out of the corporate race last June, I assumed that drive would vanish. It didn’t.

I started "sourdoughing" last Autumn, and soon noticed a familiar anxiety creeping into the process—the starter, the levain, the proofing, even the crust. It had to be perfect otherwise I had failed. I had to stop and tell myself: "Hold up, we have a problem."

Over the last 18 months, "being at peace" has become a non-negotiable necessity. When I left TTD, I told Jed, my boss, "I can’t explain it, but I just need peace." This week, during a coaching session with my peers in the Coaching Leaders in a Complex World program, I had a true epiphany: The opposite of peace is perfection. Since I can't function without peace, I must let go of perfection. The work continues.

Hetal's almost perfect sourdough March 30, 2026