The Opposite of Perfection
Perfection is subjective.
Perfection is relative.
Perfection isn’t real.
One of my favourite things about creative work is that outputs exist on a continuum. There’s multiple correct solutions and multiple truths that emerge in response to a single creative problem. Right and wrong, black and white, yes and no don’t need to exist in spaces that require creative problem solving; there’s lots of room in the middle to play.
Oxford Languages defines ‘perfection’ as: “the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects.”
Perfection can be such a dangerous trap in creative work because we see examples of incredible (seemingly ‘perfect’) work all around us. This work has found its audience and I’m happy for this work, but I’m also aware that there are many who are critical of this same work. What appears flawless to one will be flawed to another; it’s all about perspective. A unanimous, quantitative, collective ‘perfect’ isn’t possible.
Perfectionist tendencies are often rooted in an honourable place; wanting to do our best work and be our most fully realized selves. However, perfectionism’s downfall is that it’s focused on the end result, as well as others’ reactions to the end result. Fear of failure, fear of being judged, fear of uncertainty, fear of not aligning with our identities… we set ourselves up to fall short of expectations. After all, we can only control our process, not what happens after we release something into the world.
So if perfect isn’t real and therefore not a helpful goal to work towards, what’s the alternative?
The opposite of perfection is not imperfection,
it’s contentment.
When we see perfection in creative work for what it is (a primarily externally-imposed, unrealistic, unhelpful, often ego-driven toxic goal), we can embrace the counter-cultural, internally-motivated, softer, wiser path of contentment.
Instead of chasing perfection and the pursuit of our ‘next best selves’, what if we relish and contentment? Contentment for where we are right now and what we have in this moment.
If perfection feels like a stifling little box we must squeeze ourselves into, contentment feels like a spacious breath of fresh air.
Finding joy in the journey and making progress along the way from wherever our starting point is today is a much more light-hearted, take the pressure off, confidence-boosting mind frame than striving for perfection ever will be.
And the irony is that once we begin to approach our work with more joy, lightness and authenticity — contentment — chances are we won’t only enjoy the process more but our outcomes will also be of higher quality, as what becomes possible expands alongside our mindset.
First is the Worst
My creative back log is bustling and I’ve got a long list of places to go, people to see and ideas to explore. If I try to make any one thing ‘perfect’ I’m robbing myself of time and energy that I could be using to pursue other ideas.
I’m not suggesting that we put less energy into a project than it deserves or rushing for the sake of producing lots of work, but instead recognizing that good and done is better than perfect and not done. I finish a project with contentment, knowing that it could always be ‘better’ (because creative work is inherently iterative) and I’m proud of my creation.
For example, in Talk Paper Scissors episode 001, I told listeners that I hoped that my first episode would be my worst episode. I knew that I would learn from each and every one I made thereafter, understanding the relationship between quality and practice. The only way I was going to get better was to put in the work.
Can I look back on that first episode and find 87 things wrong with it?
Yes.
Can I also look back on that first episode with excitement and pride that I did it, that I released it out into the world, letting it exist alongside every other imperfect thing?
YES.
May we practice and try things and make stuff, letting your work live in the world perfectly imperfectly.
Esteem and Compassion
No matter the pride we feel for what we’ve made and how far we’ve come, how do we forgive ourselves for what we didn’t know at the time? How do we overcome feelings of guilt or shame about our ‘less-than’ past work?
Singer and songwriter, Jake Wesley Rogers, believes that creative living requires both self-esteem and self compassion. In moments where his self-esteem is lacking, his self-compassion steps in to hold him up.
I wholeheartedly agree that moments of self-esteem can come and go, but creative stickwithitness requires that we are gentle and accepting of ourselves no matter the outcome. May we intentionally honour our past, take pride in our present and remain open to our future.
All of this is made possible with the knowledge that perfection is limiting, while contentment is expansive.
