Perfectionism is Killing Your Creativity-And You're Helping To Bury It.
March 2, 2025 | Issue No. 12
I know i’m not alone in this experience.
Have you noticed that during the creative process, whether it be art, writing, or your creation of choice, that there’s a moment where you start to wonder if what you do is even good or if you’re really talented?
Where you may even start to think, your work is “trash”?
I just finished writing my 3rd book, and here’s what I have learned…
Your work is not trash, but…
The feelings you’re having are real. The creative process is a journey. One minute we’re enjoying it and the next minute we don’t believe that anyone will ever care, including ourselves. Questioning your work is a weird part of the process that I don’t know how to skip myself.
But letting it stop you from creating and putting your gifts out there? That’s not what we want.
I want you to know that you’re not alone, because…
The ‘Greats’ Struggled Too
DaVinci is one of the most famous artists in the world, and yet, the majority of his work was published by someone else after his death who believed in his work. DaVinci saw the majority of his work as unfinished, even when it was marvelous. DaVinci left the majority of his work “unfinished” because he struggled with getting it “right.”
All of this was based on standards he created for himself. His work was loved, but he never got to see to what extent it was loved. He has no idea that the Mona Lisa was marveled over.
Can I also quickly share how important it is to have people around you who believe in you? Like, he didn’t believe in himself, but someone else did and thought…I’ll put it out there.
Even when he couldn’t and didn’t because…
Perfection Kills Creativity
I was watching Charlie Brown recently, as I do every Christmas season daily, and realized how simplistically perfect that first movie from the 60’s is. Is Charlie Brown in the Louvre? No. Is it still great? Absolutely.
You have a lane and your gift is so important to that lane. We NEED the lane you’re meant to occupy. We need you to create from your sense of love, and imagination, and your experiences. We want the creations that speak your language. We want it to feel like you. When we see it, we will know…this is you.
This Means…
Keep Going
Love on yourself when that voice comes up and tries to tell you you’re not good enough. Give yourself what you need.
Know that the you hear voice is fear, and its wrong.
This is a moment where pushing through is positive.
I don’t know if this ever stops being part of the process, because I still experience this myself, but I do know that the more you do the things, and create, the voice begins to have no power.
And instead, you stand in your power and do what you are here to do. Create.
And on the other side, you realize…
Your work is a treasure.
You will change, inspire and motivate people with what YOU create and imagine.
Keep going x
I didn’t post this on the “right” day or time as people say you should. I just needed to get this out. I needed whoever needed to see this, even if it was just one person, to get it right when they needed to.
Please never stop creating,
Yasmine
