The Foolproof Guide on How to Be Perfect
In Every Aspect of Life! 💯✨ Because Imperfection is So Last Season!
Did you click it? The title, I mean?
Did you expect to get the foolproof guide to perfection as the title promised?
Sorry, folks, I tricked you.
Last week, I chatted about Overwhelm and the irony of trying to illustrate this ailment, which nearly drove me into artistic insanity.
During its creation, the illustration didn’t align with what I’d envisioned. Instead, it was a dirty mess, and my attempts to salvage it proved frustratingly futile. (Or so it seemed at the time.)
As I continued to ink the drawing, the gaze of my inner critic bore down on me, laden with disappointment and criticism. In its eyes, the work would never attain the status of ‘good enough’. Just like me — it would never be deemed sufficient or perfect.
Perfectionism 😔
I concluded that being overwhelmed is often driven by that most insidious of ailments: perfectionism.
I see it in myself. I see it in my coaching clients, students, friends, colleagues and loved ones. I see its claws reaching out like spiky vines into every aspect of modern living.
Oh my goodness! For years, it’s followed me and my weary body around, choking the joy out of life more times than I care to admit to in one Substack post.
As I've grown older and reflected upon my less-than-perfect reflection — grey hairs, wrinkles, and those dastardly saggy boobs, which, while magnificent and have nourished three children, serve as a reminder — it's all 'downhill' from here!
Or is it?
There’s hope…
In that reflection, I also see wisdom growing.
I’m learning to let go of perfectionism; it’s taunting, it’s cruelty.
I’ll admit it’s not easy…
So this week, I’m sharing a new style of post - my current work-in-progress drawing - as I explore the theme of Perfectionism.
Are you a recovering perfectionist?
If you have the antidote to imperfection or the secret sauce to being perfect, let me know in the comments 😉
Otherwise, I would love to hear from recovering perfectionists and your steps to overcoming it.
Or if you feel brave, let me know if you are struggling with it too. Because in the wise words of Randy Newman
“You’ve got [an imperfect] friend in me”.
Stay creative
If you fancy a read, here’s last week’s post: