{"id":28259,"date":"2024-04-23T03:00:36","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T10:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=28259"},"modified":"2024-04-18T09:48:14","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T16:48:14","slug":"on-perfectionism-dont-let-perfect-kill-your-project-by-la-bourgeois","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2024\/04\/23\/on-perfectionism-dont-let-perfect-kill-your-project-by-la-bourgeois\/","title":{"rendered":"On Perfectionism: Don’t Let Perfect Kill Your Project by LA Bourgeois"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"On<\/a>Let’s welcome back LA Bourgeois<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cOn Perfectionism: Don’t Let Perfect Kill Your Project.\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Perfectionism reminds me of James Bond<\/strong>, handsome, charming, fashion on point, cocktail in hand, whispering soft nothings into your neck as he slides the knife into your back.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not nice!<\/p>\n

While achieving greatness is a fine goal, perfectionism\u2019s siren song can hinder your progress. It can prevent you from starting a project because you doubt your abilities. It can stop you from finishing because your work never seems \u201cgood enough.\u201d It can drain the joy from your process because the work isn\u2019t progressing the way you think it should.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just have to think of a great first sentence,\u201d you mutter to yourself.
\n\u201cIt just needs this one last touch.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy can\u2019t I find the right word? How does Anne Lamott do it so perfectly? I\u2019ll never be a writer!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Okay, Home Slice.<\/strong> Let\u2019s take it down a notch. Why so much pressure?<\/p>\n

Every writer in the world has thought these thoughts, and even voiced them to others.<\/p>\n

Even the writer who wrote the most perfect piece of writing you ever read rough drafted that thing, edited it, pulled words from a thesaurus, thrown words away, and probably can\u2019t believe that others think the work is perfect because they can see every misstep, each typo that made it through editing, all of the mistakes behind the work.<\/p>\n

Creativity is Imperfect<\/h2>\n

To get better at our craft, we need to experiment with the techniques we\u2019re learning, to funk around with structure, to spend time doing the exercises.<\/p>\n

To find inspiration<\/strong>, we need to play and explore and let our curiosity lead us into unexpected places that may turn out to be nowhere special.<\/p>\n

To finish a project, we need to endure the setbacks, rejoice in our triumphs, and return again and again to our desks and our notebooks.<\/p>\n

To release a project, we must lower our expectations, accept the praise given, allow our work to breathe and become part of the world.<\/p>\n

We must allow our creativity the space to be imperfect.<\/h3>\n

And I know that\u2019s scary to think about.<\/p>\n

Embracing imperfection can feel like a whirlwind ride on a motorcycle as you escape from the villains<\/strong>, the wind whooshing across your face and stomach doing that little flip as you go weightless with every jump.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I recommend approaching this process of embracing imperfection with teeny-tiny, itty-bitty steps.<\/p>\n

Steps that are small enough not to frighten but still challenge just a little.<\/p>\n

Steps that help you break down your resistance to imperfection.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Four-Part Belief Maker<\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s an exercise we practice in Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching called the Four-Part Belief Maker<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n