ASLU 084: Imperfectly Perfect (Creative Mindset)
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This week’s episode is a short one but it’s one I’ve been thinking about for over a month: the trap of perfectionism and our ability to forget all too frequently that it’s all our little imperfections that make us, and the work we create, perfect.
When you're a recovering perfectionist, sometimes you need a reminder that we're all imperfectly perfect - or perfectly imperfect - and that the people who enjoy our work embrace our imperfections. So maybe we should embrace them too!
I also had a reminder shortly before sitting down to record that in order for us to “win” we need to try. This quote from an article I was reading about the winning team of this year’s World Series hit me hard when I read it. Atlanta was not the best team in the major leagues this year and they were not expected to win… at all.
Atlanta wasn’t the majors’ best team from April to September; it wasn’t all that close. It merely tried to win, and then it did.
It merely tried to win… and then it did.
While what we do isn’t about “winning” or “losing” the lesson is big. Yoda may say “do or do not, there is no try” but as much as I love Yoda, I don’t entirely agree. If you think you can’t, you won’t. Ever. Because you won’t try. If you try, and keep trying, and then keep trying some more, things happen. They may not be perfect but who cares. Things are happening. Sometimes you get there simply because everyone else stopped trying or didn’t even try in the first place. But you kept trying. And then you did it.
And there you go.
This Episode Is For…
is struggling with comparison-itis, imposter syndrome, or putting work out there before it's "perfect"
is finding themselves creatively stuck
is afraid to hit publish, type "the end", put down the paintbrush, upload the photo, list the earrings, release the song, or deliver the commission
If you just want the links to the resources mentioned in this episode, scroll down to the bottom.
Listen To the Episode
Here’s a to this week’s episode. You can also listen via the player below or on your favourite podcast app (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, and more). Just search for And She Looked Up!
you are perfectly imperfect
Mentioned in this episode
- Atlanta Used One Simple Trick to Win A Shocking World Series Championship by Zach Kram at The Ringer
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