I suffer from a crippling condition common to creators called perfectionism. The Perfectionist is never ready to publish, ship, or share. It is perpetually searching for more information, more experience, and more validating proof. Before subjecting its work to the world’s gaze, its creations will certainly crumble under public scrutiny due to one catastrophic oversite unless further (and endless) revisions are employed.
Case in point: I have more articles in my draft folder than I have published.
Understanding the Paradox of Perfectionism
Historically, the drive toward perfectionism is deeply rooted in the pursuit of excellence. However, this pursuit is a double-edged sword. The pressure to deliver content without flaws can hinder the creative process, leading to debilitating stress and a fear of taking risks.
In creative and academic pursuits, the shadow of perfectionism looms large—often stifling the work it seeks to perfect. While noble, seeking perfection leads to a paradox of diminishing outcomes, an ever-narrowing window of opportunity. Recognizing this, we must shift our perspective and see imperfection not as a failure but as an integral part of the creative and educational journey.
Flawlessless invites you to reconsider your approach and find a balance between excellence and your authentic, imperfect self. Join me as I address a few strategies to pull a fast one on The Perfectionist to get your sh*t done.
Flipping the Script on Perfectionism
Caught in The Perfectionist's snare, we often view our drafts and works-in-progress with an overly critical eye, scrutinizing them for flaws that we fear will expose us as frauds and amateurs. But this pursuit of perfection is a mirage, always out of reach, and it fails to account for the beauty inherent in the process itself.
Consider the philosophy of wabi-sabi, the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection. It teaches us of the elegance and serenity in the incomplete and the imperfect. To truly flip the script, we must start by recognizing that each draft, each attempt, is a step closer to our best, not a step closer to the best. If we apply this wisdom to our creative endeavours, we can see each piece not as a failed attempt at perfection but as a moment in time, captured with all its raw potential.
This reframing is crucial. It transforms the narrative from one of crippling inadequacy to one of incremental learning (Dweck, 2006). We can begin to unlock the draft folder, seeing each piece not as a liability but as an asset, a clear indication of our commitment to our craft and a stepping stone to the next best thing. It's about understanding that the act of creation is never a straight line but a meandering path of continuous learning, a building block of our broader body of work.
The Progress Principle
The mantra 'done is better than perfect' might seem like a platitude, but it holds a profound truth, especially when confronting the wiley mindf*ckery of The Perfectionist.
This principle isn't a green light for mediocrity—it's a battle cry for creators to prioritize completion as a form of progress. Learn and adapt rather than stall out in the pursuit of the unattainable. While not an idea of her own invention, Sheryl Sandberg memorialized this sentiment in her book “Lean In,” where she challenges us to move forward relentlessly (Sandberg, 2013).
Honouring the Journey
Much of this momentum comes from rewarding the work itself, not just the finished product. Therefore, understanding the neuroscience behind motivation can be a game-changer for creatives struggling with perfectionism.
Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist with an improbably popular podcast, elucidates that dopamine is not merely a reward for achieving goals but is also linked to the pursuit of those goals (Huberman Lab, n.d.).
This insight is profound: if we can find fulfillment in the act of creation itself, our dependency on achieving the perfect end product is diminished. The more we honour the journey, the more we recognize that each brush stroke, each keystroke, each moment spent in the studio is as valuable as what emerges from it.
By creating a culture that values each step of the creative process, we can mitigate the pressure to be perfect and, instead, find contentment in the continual act of becoming better at our craft.
Cultivating a Reflective Rhythm
Reflection, as advocated by educators like Dr. Kristin Neff, is the antidote to The Perfectionist's poison pill, offering a powerful mirror to our experiences (Neff, 2011). Beyond mere navel-gazing, this practice is an active, intentional process of dissecting what we've done, understanding why we've done it, and planning how we can do it better. It's a critical component of any creative endeavour, turning each project into a learning experience. When we reflect, we're not just looking back—we're looking forward, using our past as a guide to navigate the future.
Instituting a routine for reflection requires commitment. It's about carving out time in our schedules to pause and consider our creative journey. This reflective rhythm can take many forms. It might be a journal where we jot down our thoughts at the end of each day, a blog (or newsletter) where we share the successes and struggles of our creative process, or a regular meetup with peers where we dissect each other's work over a pint or a coffee.
These practices structure our reflections, ensuring they are not just random thoughts but a scaffolded approach to personal and professional development. Reflection turns the mirror back on ourselves, not with judgment but with curiosity, asking what can be learned from each attempt. “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, what did I learn from my last fall?” The opposite of success is not failure, but learning.
Building a Tribe of the Flawed and Fearless
A creator's journey is often solitary, but it doesn't have to be lonely. Building a tribe of like-minded individuals—a community of the flawed and fearless—can be a bulwark against the insidious nature of The Perfectionist. In an environment where sharing work-in-progress is the norm, the fear of imperfection begins to wane. It's a collective culture that celebrates the process and the learning that comes with it. Such a community can act as a crucible for creativity, where ideas are forged through the fire of collective critique and encouragement.
Within this tribe, vulnerability becomes a shared currency. The act of exposing one's unfinished, imperfect creations becomes less daunting when done in the company of others who are equally open about their creative challenges. This supportive network can be instrumental in refracting the singular, often harsh light of self-judgment into a spectrum of perspectives that can illuminate hidden strengths and areas for growth. As members share their experiences and works, the community cultivates resilience and a shared understanding that perfection is neither expected nor desired.
Consider organizing regular meet-ups or creating online forums where members can share their works in progress and receive constructive feedback. The key is establishing a space that encourages support and critique in equal measure. Encouragement solidifies the courage to create and share, while constructive critique sharpens skill and hones craft. In a safe space, every stumble and misstep is recognized as a natural part of the creative process.
Oversaturating Creativity
Clive Thompson’s Saturation Theory has nothing to do with the vibrancy of colours. Instead, it is a concept from qualitative research. At some point—while diving down the latest rabbit hole in pursuit of knowing everything there is to know—a threshold is reached where new information no longer contributes any additional insight.
This theory has compelling implications for stopping The Perfectionist in their tracks. It suggests a palpable moment in the creative process when additional tinkering, additional edits, and additional hours no longer meaningfully enhance the work (Thompson, 2021). Recognizing this moment, this turning point, is crucial—it's when we can step back and say, “I’m not improving this anymore, I’m just rearranging things. Time to call it a day.”
In recognizing when enough is enough, we grant ourselves permission to move on to new projects and challenges. It's a liberating concept that frees us from the endless loop of just one more change. By embracing Saturation Theory, we can redirect our energies toward new ideas and opportunities for growth, secure in the knowledge that our completed work is not the end of our creative journey but a launchpad for the next adventure.
The End is Only the Beginning
In our quest to navigate the challenges of perfectionism, we've uncovered valuable strategies that invite us to embrace the beauty of imperfection and prioritize progress over perfection. From the serene wisdom of wabi-sabi to the empowering mantra that “done is better than perfect,” each approach offers a step towards liberating ourselves from the paralyzing pursuit of flawlessness.
The key to diffusing The Perfectionist is both alarmingly difficult and ridiculously simple: move the finish line closer and then step over it. Acknowledge that every effort we make, every imperfect stroke of creativity, enriches the human experience. The true power of our contribution lies not in its perfection but in our courage to share it, warts and all.
Be flawlessless.
References
Sandberg, S. (2013). Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Knopf. Lean In
Neff, K. (2011). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. William Morrow. Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff
Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House. Mindset
Huberman Lab. (n.d.). Huberman Lab Podcast. Huberman Lab
Thompson, C. (2021, November 7). The Trick to Knowing When You’re Done With Research. Medium; Creators Hub.