Perfection is the Enemy of the Good
When I grew up there was no such thing as "conscious parenting." I was blessed with an extraordinary childhood...Paris, Versailles, Monte Carlo, Mallorca, Switzerland, two (not one, but TWO) stay-at-home parents. It was rich and delicious. I'm not convinced my parents gave a seconds' thought to what they were teaching us. I do remember that my first school taught the girls nothing but Catholicism and embroidery. I'm not very good at either today, I'm afraid.
What my childhood lacked were realistic role models or any goals whatsoever. I grew up with parents who didn't work - Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald with 3 kids trolling around Europe after WWII! There were artists and painters, poets, photographers, philosophers and some mighty good cooks and some mighty fine wine- but nobody who knew anything about building a business or (God forbid) holding down a job...or to my detriment and continual embarrassment, anything at all about making or managing money.
The reason this is relevant here is that the result is that I'm a perfectionist. I'm never convinced that what I've produced is interesting, or valid, or even worthy of anyone's time and attention. I know that if I could give it a little more time, a little more tweaking (not to be confused with tweeting), one more edit, a little more red or blue slightly to the left...you get the idea. Then, and only then, will it be perfect and allowed out into the world.
However, to build an internet business, or perhaps any business, one has to be able to "let go." To push the button and send one's ideas, thoughts, energy out into the world. "Perfection" is illusory, but "good"...its ignoble stepchild...has power and magic in it. I know this, and I try to remind myself of this daily, especially when I keep everything as a "draft."
So my goal, here and now, is to be NOT perfect. It's unattainable anyway, so I might as well let it go, right?
Blessings.
Recent Comments
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As Corinnarose said really.....One thing I would like to add is you can certainly write. Beautiful post. I suffer from the same. You might not be able to let go of it all though. It is what you are in a way. Maybe relax a little:) I know I could never just write and post.....I'd be back to check despite myself....I'd just want a better image...I'd....I sympathise :)
Thanks for the comment on the writing...that father of mine who never worked was in fact a bit of a writer, so I come by it genetically. Truth is that I don't really want to let it go completely. I do believe the world deserves all of us doing our best.
Love this post and it is so true... I work and work and work on my posts before I finally "publish" them and even then I often go back and edit after!!! But I think part of the "imperfection" is also what attracks people to our posts in some ways. We are real people sharing real ideas and passions and that's what draws people in! Good luck and much success to you, even if not perfect! :)
One of the reasons I love doing this so much is that you can write and publish...then if you don't like it you can change it! You can't do that with a book, now can you? Good luck to you too!
Hi there Ansley, what a good and wonderful story in your well written blog. May I say it's almost perfect! :-) Know exactly what you mean!
Isn't it a bummer when you have to keep fiddling around 'til you get it right and even then it isn't? It can be the curse of anyone creative.
My thoughts and best wishes go with you. Simon
Thank you, Simon. Creativity is a mixed blessing, isn't it? I would rather have it than not, but it seems to make life more complicated. Many blessings ~Ansley
"perfectionism in an imperfect world is madness differently expressed" This is what a dear friend wrote to me this week. I know he's right but it's too late for me to change now. Perhaps we need an intervention. LOL.
Well, I never claimed to be "perfectly" sane! We are kind of proud of our perfectionism, aren't we? It's like a badge of honor, even though we know it keeps us from reaching our goals, or slows us down anyway. We somehow think it's OK. I think that blogging and websites are good therapy for the perfectionist. It means we can change it as required, so it's easier to let it go in the first place.~Ansley
When you think about it, being a perfectionist is such a waste of time but we can't seem to help ourselves. Hopefully you're right about the therapy. LOL
Absolutely let it go it will never be helpful. I am cursed with the same predisposition but it is worth fighting it. Probably shouldn't mention I literally feel sick every time I post something. Regardless I post it anyway :-)
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Great read - thanks for key lessons