For me, perfectionism is the #1 killer of creativity. Nothing I do ever meets my standards. Sometimes I lie and pretend I’m satisfied with the results. Sometimes I remember not to point out every fault and just smile and say thank you when I receive praise, but even when I do, I’m thinking of those faults.
Knowing that my creative endeavor will fall short saps my excitement, drains my energy, murders my enthusiasm almost before I begin. How could it not? Where does this standard come from? Nothing is perfect. Everyone knows that. So, why do I expect the impossible of myself?
Perfectionism is a denial of self. If I can’t accept that where I am is a good place, I can’t ever move forward. I won’t ever improve because eventually I will stop trying.
Perfectionism is selfishness. I can’t fully appreciate anyone else’s work either because I’ve set myself up as judge. I see its flaws and temper my praise.
Perfectionism is arrogance. Who qualified me to set this impossible standard? If nothing is perfect, who am I to think I can achieve what others can’t?
Perfectionism is death.
Let it go and create.
[tweetmeme source=”cassidylewis” only_single=false]
Linda Cassidy Lewis 
My question is: Is there anything that doesn’t kill creativity?
Between the daily distractions and the background noise coming from the collective of voices which seems to scream, “You are the worst writer on the face of this planet and possibly in the whole universe”, well, it is hard to keep going.
LikeLike
Yes. There’s YOUR voice.
LikeLike