Give Yourself Permission to Suck. You are Imperfect but Amazing

Published: Wed, 10/24/18

Continuous Improvement is Better than Delayed Perfection.

— Mark Twain

I don’t know why but I’ve never had a problem just trying something new in my writing life. In the early days when I knew writing was to be my thing, I didn’t want to join the literary world in the usual way. Why be like everyone else? I had to add my unique spin to story creation that would allow me to walk a path only I could. I jumped in with both feet and was awful at first. Little did I know this was the first stage of getting better.

You have chosen wisely, embrace your imperfections

I had the ideas but not the finesse or experience to execute my stories properly. I was judged harshly by many for my audacity in trying new things without having the pedigree beforehand. But I didn’t care.
I gave myself permission to suck, but I believed no matter how many mistakes I made sharing my work was still better than waiting for my talent to be at a level to produce flawless art.
The critics waded in, and It hurt.
Criticism always does for me, but deep down I still clung onto the idea that it was better to be imperfect and committed to improving than to shoot for perfection that I would never achieve.

The only question that matters to me is, am I getting better?

It may come naturally to share my work, but I’m not cool with it. I’m nervous and fearful, but I still have to get it out there, still have to take the criticism, still have to do the work to improve it. I think a lot of people forget that because we may ship our work doesn’t mean we can’t still improve on it at a later date. Who says it needs to be flawless when I share it. Even when I have followed my writing process, which is:

First Draft
Second Draft
Send to Editor
Third Draft
Step back from it for a week
Fourth Draft
Send to Beta Readers
Fifth Draft

I still discover ways I can improve, and if I get an opportunity, I’ll make it better.
If you’ve been telling yourself that the search for perfection is a noble goal, you need to admit to yourself this is not true.

Marketing guru Seth Godin explains it succinctly:

Perfect is the ideal defense mechanism, the work of Pressfield’s Resistance, the lizard brain giving you an out.

Perfect lets you stall, ask more questions, do more reviews, dumb it down, safe it up and generally avoid doing anything that might fail (or anything important).

You’re not in the perfect business. Stop pretending that’s what the world wants from you.

Truly perfect is becoming friendly with your imperfections on the way to doing something remarkable.

I just couldn’t say it any better.

Share your flawed work with the world, it will reward you for it.

Hope this Helps

The Pursuit of Perfect by Tal Ben-Shahar Ph. D is directed to readers who think perfectionism is a positive trait and consider it a compliment when it is offered. The author highlights all aspects of perfectionism especially the ones that are negative and destructive. The inability to accept failure for example, to the extent that you don't take a risk or rise to a challenge just in case you fail. Or the fear of allowing someone to do something for you because you imagine it will not live up to your exacting standards. Or worst yet, ignoring your successes and moving on without the slightest recognition of your achievements. As crazy as it sounds your failures capture your attention more than your wins. The Pursuit of Perfect has an underlying message that is hammered home time and time again. Stop being a Perfectionist and become a Optimalist. Enjoy the process and accept imperfection because it can make you happier, healthier and more successful.

Invaluable!