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vidsyn: old norse for broad vision of creative thinking and forward-looking perspective. How will you unlock your creativity today?
“I think perfectionism is just fear in fancy shoes and a mink coat, pretending to be elegant when actually it’s just terrified.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
Like many of you, I’ve always struggled with being a perfectionist. This can be paralyzing to creative work. You want to create your best work, write that hit song and take your place in the parthenon of creative greats. So your natural inclination is to put loads of pressure on the process hoping to turn coal into diamonds. Unfortunately, this is rarely the result. There’s a simple perspective switch that has helped me overcome this.
Quantity over quality.
This may seem counter intuitive, but I’ll show you the many reasons this is crucial for getting to your best creative work.
In the book, Art & Fear by David Bayles & Ted Orlen, they shared a story that changed the game for me. A teacher splits her pottery class into two groups.
The first would be given the assignment to create the best ceramic bowl they could, while the second group was told to create 30 bowls in the time allotted.
The first group agonized over making the best bowl possible within their ability. The second group focused on volume not worrying about how great their pottery would turn out.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
The first group did pretty well, making the best bowl they could within their ability. But the second group created multiple bowls that were far superior in craftsmanship compared to the first group. By focusing on quantity over quality, the second group had gained the skills to create a much better bowl.
You can apply this to your own skill building and creative work, by:
- Lowering expectations
- Focusing on repetition
- Eliminate perfectionism
Lower Expectations
Life is hard enough without making it harder on yourself. Focus on playing and having fun when learning a new skill or taking on a new creative challenge. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you take the pressure off.
Repetition
The fastest way I’ve found to build confidence is through repetition. By taking small actions over and over towards your goal you’re showing your brain that’s it’s possible.
Instead of writing a hit song, try knocking out five songs this week and you might stumble on your best work. That doesn’t mean forcing yourself to finish five songs in the time you’d usually write one, it’s about getting in the creative flow and just creating.
No One’s Perfect
Now don’t get me wrong, there’s a time to try to make your art as perfect as possible. But at the beginning stages, it’s about allowing the creative juices to flow and getting the initial ideas on the page. Make as much as possible with no expecations, judgement, or comparisons.
I’ve fallen in this trap many times. The fear of not being perfect lead me down a path of not creating at all. What’s the point in producing if it’s not as good as The Neptunes? By lowering expectations and focusing on play I’ve been able to breakthrough with some of my best work.
So if you’re dealing with this same daily struggle and trying to get over the hump with your creative work, try taking a month off of any of your output goals and just create for fun everyday. You may just find your magnum opus.