Thanks Jill! I remember when you first suggested I try for deliberate imperfection. I put the words on the cover of my planner and everything. It was a wonderful release. Good to be reminded (maybe there’s still room on the cover of the current planner).
The other thing about perfectionism is that perfect just doesn't exist. Meaning, even if you manage to make your essay or your piece of art "perfect"---though of course if you're a perfectionist you'll never attain that---everyone else who sees it is going to have a different opinion about it. There may be some who find it "perfect", but there'll be those who aren't moved by it at all. My artwork improved a lot when I stopped trying to make it "perfect". There is no perfect. It's an illusion. Or maybe a delusion.
Thank you, as always, for your resonant and timely reminders. I also love the use of the word “evict” in the letter writer’s note. I, too, look for ways to evict perfectionism…and cringe at thoughts I had not that long ago—such as “I don’t make mistakes”. Eeeeek! 😳 Alongside trying to evict perfectionism, I’m trying to “do” less—or maybe simplify. Lowering those kinds of expectations is also another de-programming I’m working on.
Yes to all of those! We're absolutely products of our society and conditioning and there is a lot to examine and question, eh? Here's to normalizing lowering the bar!
This was a good read. I am absolutely a slave to perfection, but viewing it from this angle I realize that I use it to hide, to avoid and to beat my self up. Huh. Well. That’s about to change. Thank you!
Thanks Jill! I remember when you first suggested I try for deliberate imperfection. I put the words on the cover of my planner and everything. It was a wonderful release. Good to be reminded (maybe there’s still room on the cover of the current planner).
The other thing about perfectionism is that perfect just doesn't exist. Meaning, even if you manage to make your essay or your piece of art "perfect"---though of course if you're a perfectionist you'll never attain that---everyone else who sees it is going to have a different opinion about it. There may be some who find it "perfect", but there'll be those who aren't moved by it at all. My artwork improved a lot when I stopped trying to make it "perfect". There is no perfect. It's an illusion. Or maybe a delusion.
Yes, 100%! Perfectionism is not for us mortals.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you, as always, for your resonant and timely reminders. I also love the use of the word “evict” in the letter writer’s note. I, too, look for ways to evict perfectionism…and cringe at thoughts I had not that long ago—such as “I don’t make mistakes”. Eeeeek! 😳 Alongside trying to evict perfectionism, I’m trying to “do” less—or maybe simplify. Lowering those kinds of expectations is also another de-programming I’m working on.
Yes to all of those! We're absolutely products of our society and conditioning and there is a lot to examine and question, eh? Here's to normalizing lowering the bar!
This was such a super read to start the day with Jill! Thank you 🩵
I love this! Thank you. I feel like I need perpetual reminders of this truth. Off to do some imperfect creating now.
SAME. After a lifetime of terrible messaging we need the good stuff in our ears on a regular basis too.
This was a good read. I am absolutely a slave to perfection, but viewing it from this angle I realize that I use it to hide, to avoid and to beat my self up. Huh. Well. That’s about to change. Thank you!