How Perfectionism Is Killing Your Creativity

Perfectionism and Procrastination

As I was researching this post, I came across an article by Maria Popova at Brain Pickings about writer Anne Lamott and how she feels perfectionism stunts inventiveness.

Popova summarizes Lamott this way: "At the heart of writing … lies a chapters for placidity grit and a willingness to decondition the all too human tendency to go so overwhelmed by the enormity of the journey that nosotros're too paralyzed to accept the first footstep." Doesn't THAT audio familiar? I experience paralyzed by fright in my fine art making all the time. Practise you?

We are paralyzed by:

• the blank page
• a good outset
• fear of failure
• fear of success
• our last "failed" art piece
• our last "successful" art slice
• someone else's talent
• someone else'southward critiques

All this stopping makes it hard to start.

To overcome the paralysis that accompanies the fright of non being "perfect" or "good plenty," I take management from another astonishing artist and author, SARK. She talks well-nigh making the "micro movements" that pb to creative action – on the first day you take out the scissors, on the next you articulate your tabular array, on the third you purchase some markers, and perhaps on the fourth, you lot brand a dot somewhere on the page.

Somehow breaking things into trivial steps makes them feel less intimidating. This is the metaphor at the centre of Lamott's volume, Bird by Bird. She asks us to simply show up, begin, and take things i at a time. I value having permission to prove upwardly and create something, regardless of the outcome. That's when I create freely and can often get into that state of "catamenia," where I lose track of time, and the art doesn't need to exist "perfect."

Perfectionism Takes a Toll on Your Self-Esteem

Perfectionism tin pb to some really negative thinking: "Yous aren't good enough," "Y'all don't deserve this," or "This isn't 'art.'" This kind of harsh self-talk is meant to keep you from taking chances, exploring, growing, and getting started on your adjacent artistic effort.

Artist or not, I see so many people in my function who are dominated by their perfectionism in many areas of their lives. They feel inadequate at school, in their jobs, and with their friends. Equally a result they feel anxious and lone. I'm inviting y'all to talk back to perfectionism, what many artists like to call "the inner critic."

How One Fine art Therapist Uses Art to Combat Perfectionism and Fright

One of the first exercises in many of my courses is confronting the inner critic. Fine art therapist Sarah Kulig, of South Burlington Vermont, took my Art Journaling 101 Online class this winter. When she sent me some photos of her periodical pages recently, information technology was like a lightening bolt hit me in the forehead. Her response to her inner critic is witty, chiding, and completely freeing. I wish I had thought of it.

What would happen if you told off your inner critic? Or told perfectionism to take a hike? Here's what happened for Sarah:

Artist: Sara Kulig

Isn't this amazing? I honey how she fifty-fifty gives herself permission to be scared – A LOT, and the reassurance of self-love and cocky-acceptance is beautiful. Sarah, I'yard hoping that you lot will inspire others every bit much equally you lot've inspired me with your courage and wit.

Artist: Sarah Kulig

Her fine art is real. Moving. Emotional. Spiritual. Perfectionism has no place here.

Artist: Sarah Kulig

If you are interested in doing some of this work too! Click here to learn more.

Imperfect Art is Moving

Some of my near "imperfect," inexact, and inaccurate pieces accept been the most meaningful. My job is to show upwardly on the page, the sheet, the sewing car, or to my guitar. My chore is to be a vessel, and to permit creation to flow through me. Information technology's almost like a scrubbing for the soul.

If I'm just a conduit, for the art, I'm not responsible for the fine art product, whether it's "good" or "bad." When I achieve "flow" in fine art making, it's a magical adventure. I marvel at what appears, like whatever other onlooker, considering what is emerging is every bit much a surprise to me as it is to the person looking over my shoulder.

Tell Perfectionism to Get Lost!

My challenge to you is to tell perfectionism to have step aside. It doesn't matter what class your inventiveness takes – whether you are an artist, writer, dancer, marketing expert, or cook – you need inventiveness. Let's not permit perfectionism continue its evil dictatorship. Share in the comments section. Make a poem, a rant, a manifesto, but share it with us.

Click here to acquire more about Art Journaling 101, and tell your perfectionism to take a hike similar Sarah did.

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Source: https://mindfulartstudio.com/how-perfectionism-is-killing-your-creativity/

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