Jacque! Yay! I'm so glad you're here. However much you post is the right amount for you now. And gives us more than we would have had otherwise. I look forward to getting to know you better through your writing.
Welcome to the Cheer Peppers! Perfectionism resonates all too well with me. My expectations of myself are always above and beyond what most people would consider rationale.
The nice thing about NanoPoblano is the focus on community and connection. As you said, even if you don’t write every day, you will still write more.. and you’ll discover a wealth of other people’s experiences while doing it😊
Due to disabilities and life circumstances I've had to let go of perfectionism. Unfortunately, it hasn't let go of me. I find myself unconsciously striving for it, almost daily. I've concluded that it's an aspect of internalized ableism. I'm working to dismantle that inside of myself.
Yay You! I’ll be cheering you on! Perfectionism is such a beast. My hope for you as you take up this challenge is that it breaks something in you WIDE OPEN. I felt a nudge in this same direction when Cheryl Strayed encouraged us to embrace our mediocrity. Can I? Not sure. But I’m going to try.
Thank you so much, Wendy! "WIDE OPEN" sounds a little bit scary, and a lot like adventure and growth. OK. A LOT scary. I am up for it though. I would not have been just one year ago. Incredible how much can change in 12-months! As for "embracing mediocrity," in Cheryl Strayed's terms. Can you? Yes! You can! Keep writing, keep trying, keep showing up. You have it in you - in a magnificent & powerful way!
Funny, I was there virtually for Cheryl Strayed, but I don't remember that advice. I'm so glad you raised it! Feeling mediocre is one of the things...maybe the main thing...that has held me back from sharing what I write. You've just given me an idea for another blog post. Thank you!
"Perfect is the enemy of the good" really shook the perfectionist streak out of me. I realized I had stopped painting, writing, drawing etc etc because I knew it wasn't going to be perfect so why bother -- so I turned it on its head. I told myself before I began anything that it wasn't even supposed to be good. This was supposed to be a "bad" painting. This poem wasn't ever going to be perfect, so just have fun with it. Make it messy. Make it weird. Make it incomprehensible. But make it.
It's still my favorite way to shake myself out of a fear of perfection.
Progress over perfection is such a great way to sum this up. Looking forward to Peppering with you!
I may turn that into a sticker for my laptop! Brilliant! I'm so happy for you that you found a way to turn perfectionism on its head.
I recently started painting with acrylics, a completely new adventure. I have zero experience with drawing, composing, or painting. But I'm having a great time, painting with my sister. She is now - today - teaching her first paint party!! As we have been learning and practicing, two sayings keep coming up from the artists we've been learning from are all about embracing the messy middle, and trusting the process.
I'll keep your words in mind, Mica, to, "...have fun with it. Make it messy. Make it weird. Make it incomprehensible. But make it." So wise. Thank you.
I love acrylics! I also have zero formal training, but I picked up a paintbrush about a thousand years ago and the rest was history. Congrats to your sister for her first painting party, that sounds like so much fun!
I'm so glad my (brutal) self-talk resonated with you, haha. Sometimes we just need to kick ourselves in the pants to get moving.
Ah, the word of "PERFECTIONISM"...how I loathe thee...it lurks in the shadows, lives on the edges, hides in the haystack, + sometimes punches me right in the face! Although its attachment to me has loosened over time, I still struggle with peeling it from my skin {+ my creative works}, sometimes losing a layer if needed, + throwing it into the abyss! However, I will NOT give up!
Proud of you, Benivia. Keep going. "Stop not writing," as Anne Lamott says. :-) I still love, love, love the way you honor the quote, and your words. Your words, and your story, matter! YOU matter! ❤️
"Action is what fear fears the most." You bravely stepped into your fear and stood up to perfectionism. How beautiful to read the change that took place within as you participated in the year-long writing. I am following in your steps as I start my Substack journey.
Perfection comes up for me in writing my manuscripts. I know the goal is the get the bones of the story down on paper; The Shitty First Draft (Anne Lamott), but I find I have to edit as I type. I would love the freedom to leave things as they are the first time through, this is my perfectionism. I am getting better in leaving a trail of red lines...but yeah it's a work in progress, for sure!
Happy Pepper Season! Really glad to be in NanoPoblano with you. :) There's really nothing like this challenge to shake the perfectionism out of us. :)
Agreed! I'm looking forward to the creative results of this challenge. :-) Thank you for reading and commenting. Happy writing!
Looking forward to learning and reading more from you.
Thank you, Kelli. I'm excited to read your work also.
Jacque! Yay! I'm so glad you're here. However much you post is the right amount for you now. And gives us more than we would have had otherwise. I look forward to getting to know you better through your writing.
Thank you, Janet! It's going to be a great month of writing, and reading! Thanks for the invitation.
Welcome to the Cheer Peppers! Perfectionism resonates all too well with me. My expectations of myself are always above and beyond what most people would consider rationale.
The nice thing about NanoPoblano is the focus on community and connection. As you said, even if you don’t write every day, you will still write more.. and you’ll discover a wealth of other people’s experiences while doing it😊
Thank you, Daniel. I love the focus on community and connection. I look forward to reading your work!
One should give his best, instead of worrying about perfectionism, which no one is bothered about.
Such wise words, Chidanand. Thank you.
Welcome to the 🌶️s!
Due to disabilities and life circumstances I've had to let go of perfectionism. Unfortunately, it hasn't let go of me. I find myself unconsciously striving for it, almost daily. I've concluded that it's an aspect of internalized ableism. I'm working to dismantle that inside of myself.
Yay You! I’ll be cheering you on! Perfectionism is such a beast. My hope for you as you take up this challenge is that it breaks something in you WIDE OPEN. I felt a nudge in this same direction when Cheryl Strayed encouraged us to embrace our mediocrity. Can I? Not sure. But I’m going to try.
Thank you so much, Wendy! "WIDE OPEN" sounds a little bit scary, and a lot like adventure and growth. OK. A LOT scary. I am up for it though. I would not have been just one year ago. Incredible how much can change in 12-months! As for "embracing mediocrity," in Cheryl Strayed's terms. Can you? Yes! You can! Keep writing, keep trying, keep showing up. You have it in you - in a magnificent & powerful way!
Funny, I was there virtually for Cheryl Strayed, but I don't remember that advice. I'm so glad you raised it! Feeling mediocre is one of the things...maybe the main thing...that has held me back from sharing what I write. You've just given me an idea for another blog post. Thank you!
I am so happy Wendy Carr caught that too!
"Perfect is the enemy of the good" really shook the perfectionist streak out of me. I realized I had stopped painting, writing, drawing etc etc because I knew it wasn't going to be perfect so why bother -- so I turned it on its head. I told myself before I began anything that it wasn't even supposed to be good. This was supposed to be a "bad" painting. This poem wasn't ever going to be perfect, so just have fun with it. Make it messy. Make it weird. Make it incomprehensible. But make it.
It's still my favorite way to shake myself out of a fear of perfection.
Progress over perfection is such a great way to sum this up. Looking forward to Peppering with you!
"But make it."
I may turn that into a sticker for my laptop! Brilliant! I'm so happy for you that you found a way to turn perfectionism on its head.
I recently started painting with acrylics, a completely new adventure. I have zero experience with drawing, composing, or painting. But I'm having a great time, painting with my sister. She is now - today - teaching her first paint party!! As we have been learning and practicing, two sayings keep coming up from the artists we've been learning from are all about embracing the messy middle, and trusting the process.
I'll keep your words in mind, Mica, to, "...have fun with it. Make it messy. Make it weird. Make it incomprehensible. But make it." So wise. Thank you.
I love acrylics! I also have zero formal training, but I picked up a paintbrush about a thousand years ago and the rest was history. Congrats to your sister for her first painting party, that sounds like so much fun!
I'm so glad my (brutal) self-talk resonated with you, haha. Sometimes we just need to kick ourselves in the pants to get moving.
"Anne Lamott wisely states, “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor.”"
I love Anne Lamott's book Bird by Bird!
Great starting post!
Thank you for reading. Anne Lamott's wit and wisdom are cornerstones of my writing journey.
Ah, the word of "PERFECTIONISM"...how I loathe thee...it lurks in the shadows, lives on the edges, hides in the haystack, + sometimes punches me right in the face! Although its attachment to me has loosened over time, I still struggle with peeling it from my skin {+ my creative works}, sometimes losing a layer if needed, + throwing it into the abyss! However, I will NOT give up!
Proud of you, Benivia. Keep going. "Stop not writing," as Anne Lamott says. :-) I still love, love, love the way you honor the quote, and your words. Your words, and your story, matter! YOU matter! ❤️
"Action is what fear fears the most." You bravely stepped into your fear and stood up to perfectionism. How beautiful to read the change that took place within as you participated in the year-long writing. I am following in your steps as I start my Substack journey.
Perfection comes up for me in writing my manuscripts. I know the goal is the get the bones of the story down on paper; The Shitty First Draft (Anne Lamott), but I find I have to edit as I type. I would love the freedom to leave things as they are the first time through, this is my perfectionism. I am getting better in leaving a trail of red lines...but yeah it's a work in progress, for sure!