The Perfectionism Trap

In this episode I dive into the often debilitating world of perfectionism. I share some personal anecdotes from my life as an artist, including a collection of paintings that have never seen the light of day—deemed failures but possibly just steps in my journey of personal growth. I explore the idea that these artistic 'misadventures' might be less about achieving gallery-worthy art and more about the journey of self-discovery, accompanied by the occasional laugh at past mistakes.

I also talk about how the pursuit of perfection infiltrates every aspect of my life, from failing to keep in touch with family due to work absorption to a less-than-ideal lifestyle - far from the image of perfection.

Key points include:

The Art of Perfecting the Imperfect: Embracing creative mishaps as essential to personal growth rather than seeing them as failures.

Life: The Ultimate Abstract Art: Recognising how the quest for perfection impacts all life areas, often to our detriment.

The Trap of the Picture-Perfect: The dangers of chasing perfection and how it can prevent us from appreciating the beauty in the process.

How to Suck at Things Gracefully: Learning to see imperfections and mistakes as part of the journey, not detours.

Celebrate the Wobbly Steps: Focusing on the process and small victories instead of just the end goal.

Embrace the Art of Bumbling: Rolling out the red carpet for our setbacks and learning from them to move forward with more confidence.

Be Your Own Best Friend: Practicing self-kindness and resilience through our missteps.

Find Your Tribe: The importance of connecting with others who understand and can offer support and reality checks.

Listen here or on your favourite podcast player.