We often believe that our current creative endeavor is the most significant thing in our lives,
Defining us forever.
However,
It's more practical to view it as a modest start,
Just one step in a longer journey.
The goal is to complete this project and move on to the next,
Each step a building block towards future work in a continuous,
Productive rhythm throughout our creative life.
Every piece of art is in essence a work in progress.
It's beneficial to see each project we're working on as an experiment,
One with outcomes we cannot predict.
Regardless of the result,
We gain useful insights that will aid the next experiment.
Approaching creativity with the mindset that there's no right or wrong,
No good or bad,
And that it is simply free play without rules,
Makes it easier to joyfully immerse ourselves in the process of making things.
We're not creating to win,
We're creating to play.
And play is inherently fun.
Perfectionism can obstruct this fun.
It's more skillful to find comfort in the process,
To create and release successive works with ease.
Oscar Wilde once said that some things are too important to be taken seriously,
And art is one of those things.
Setting a low bar,
Particularly at the beginning,
Allows us to play,
Explore,
And test,
Without being overly attached to the results.
This approach isn't merely about fostering more supportive thoughts.
Active play and experimentation,
Continuing until we're happily surprised,
Is often how the best work reveals itself.
Now let's talk about doubt.
It's important to differentiate between doubting your work and doubting yourself.
An example of doubting the work would be thinking,
I don't know if my song is as good as it can be.
Doubting yourself,
On the other hand,
Might sound like,
I can't write a good song.
These are vastly different,
Both in accuracy and in their impact on your well-being.
Doubting yourself can lead to hopelessness and a sense of inadequacy,
Whereas doubting the quality of your work can be a path to excellence.
Sometimes you might find that an imperfect version of a work you love,
When perfected,
Loses its charm.
This indicates that the imperfect version was the one.
The work is not about achieving perfection.
My experience with spellcheck is a good example of embracing imperfections.
I often type words that the computer tells me don't exist.
Since these words sound like what I'm trying to convey,
I use them anyway,
Knowing what they mean and hoping the reader will understand their meaning better than if I used a real word.
Any imperfections might be what makes your work great.
We rarely know what makes a piece of art truly great.
The reasons behind a great piece of art are often beyond our comprehension and are best left as theories.
Consider the Leaning Tower of Pisa,
An architectural error that became iconic over time,
Or the Japanese art of Kintsugi,
Where broken pottery is repaired with gold,
Turning flaws into beautiful features.
These examples show how mistakes or imperfections can become defining qualities.
We can apply this philosophy to ourselves,
Embracing our imperfections as a part of our creative journey.
They only hold us back when they prevent us from sharing what we hold close to our hearts.
Here are the practices.
Step one,
Perfectionism and self-doubt identification.
Identify a recent instance where you experienced perfectionism or self-doubt in your creative work.
Describe the situation and how these feelings manifested.
Step two,
Challenge.
Perfectionist thoughts.
For each perfectionist,
Thought identified.
Write a counter-statement that challenges it.
For instance,
If your thought was,
This has to be perfect,
Your counter-statement could be,
It's okay for this to be a work in progress.
Step three,
Affirmation and action.
Create a positive affirmation that encourages acceptance of imperfection and self-compassion.
Repeat this affirmation daily,
Then take one small action towards completing or advancing your project,
Focusing on progress,
Not perfection.
So,
So let's sum this up plainly.
Overcoming perfectionism involves seeing each project as a work in progress and an opportunity for experimentation.
By adopting a playful approach to creativity and accepting imperfections,
We can free ourselves from the constraints of perfectionism and self-doubt.
What do you think?
One,
How can viewing your creative projects as experiments help reduce the pressure of perfectionism?
Two,
Can you think of a time when an imperfection in your work turned out to be a strength?
Three,
How can differentiating between doubting your work and doubting yourself change your approach to creative challenges?
How to self-baseline to measure for success,
To address perfectionism and self-doubt?
Begin by documenting your creative process,
Noting moments of doubt or the pursuit of perfection.
Reflect on how these moments affected your work.
Gradually shift your focus to enjoying the process rather than fixating on the outcome.
Over time,
Evaluate how this change in perspective impacts your creativity and overall satisfaction with your work.
Congratulations,
We have reached the end of this session.
In the next session,
We will delve into the first phase of the creative process.
Collecting ideas,
We'll explore various techniques and approaches for gathering and nurturing initial concepts for creative work.
Remember,
The more you think about these concepts and use them,
The faster they will work for you.
Thank you for allowing me to serve you.
As always,
Remember,
It's a great day to be alive,
And I'll see you in the next session.
Take care.
Bye for now.
