Hi, my name is Jacqui, and I am a recovering perfectionist.
If you are not a perfectionist I can almost guarantee you know one. If you do, share this with them.
Perfectionism is supposed to be about not missing out on anything and chasing everything, ideally, to fall into absolute alignment with some ideal or idea. It’s a never-ending chase, that ends nowhere, expect in a hot sweaty pile of frustration as the finish line keeps moving. Perfectionism undermines our ability to be creative, to get stuff done, and to be accountable for the things that count.
I have heard countless writers, artists, teachers, mentors, creatives and ANYONE putting out anything in the world, admit how embarrassed they are of their earlier work. As we all bloody should be I think. If anyone is saying ‘you know, I came out of the gates with such perfection and I literally embodied my best work on my first attempt’ – RUN. I look back now at my writing even 2 years ago and want to crawl into a dark hole. With any luck, I hope I’ll do the same in 2 years about the writing I am doing right now – otherwise it, and I, are not evolving.
So, this quote is such a beautiful way to embrace the messiness, the uncontrollable, the big fat flops. As we never want to miss out on a course, and honestly, the whole feast involves falling flat on our face over and over and over again.
Sent with love,
Jac x