One of the stickers for creative people is perfectionism.
Going round and round the same dreary mountain until something is absolutely, flawlessly perfect before sending it out to bless and benefit the world.
I get it. Put your best work out, and don’t compromise.
But the sculptor who keeps whittling.
And whittling.
and whittling.
Will eventually end up with a matchstick.
There always comes a point in time when enough is enough and fears must be packed away, terror of rejection and reactions must be bottled, and your new baby allowed to fly.
It’s a scary moment, I know.
I have many one star review scars to prove my point!
But the journey to five star fame did not begin on the top of the pile. I heard on Sunday about a band who played to 9 people in the back room of a pub in Dublin in 1979. Just a passionate four piece with a big dream and some attitude. Their band name? U2.
Beginning where you are at. Fearlessly starting the journey. And refusing to be discouraged. It’s all part of the creative roadmap.
Embracing Imperfection
Embracing imperfection is an essential skill if you ever want to dive and flourish in the creative sphere.
IMPERFECT
Just do a little jiggle.
IM PERFECT
Add a tiny flourish…
I’M PERFECT
Make it a statement not a question…
I’M PERFECT!
And realise that it is your quirks and unique edges that make you who you are. Creativity is not a cookie cutter enterprise. You are the product that you sell. Your unique enequalled take on the world is precious and it is in your individuality that the value shines brightest.
I love this Scripture…
Eph. 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God…
Looking up the word in the original Greek using Strong’s concordance you find the word manifold means “much variegated, multifarious“.
I won’t lie. I had never heard those words before but they sound great to me. I am just one facet of my Papa’s multifarious wisdom – a glimpse of His endless variegated creative nature glistening in the world.
My unique perspective is not designed to be conformed, squeezed into this world’s mold. I was not intended by heaven to be the same as anyone or everyone else. And nor were you.
Some people call them imperfections. I call them features!
Over time I have learned to not only accept, but celebrate my quirks. I am who I am and it is the fact that I am different that make sure my voice and creative output worthy of the world, not the opposite.
If we were all the same why bother?
Someone else has already blogged about creativity, right? Of course they have, many thousands of times over. And as for preachers and Bible buffs – well, let’s just say, if sermons could save the world we would be long out of this mess by now, lounging in the glory and splashing in the river of life.
But since that’s not the case, and we are still here, I have to decide if I’m going to hide my meagre gifts under a bush and never take the risk. Or otherwise understand that my unique perspective is the very thing that gives richness and nuance to my writing, or drawing, or singing, or dancing, or acting or cooking or crafting…
Your Mess Is Your Message
The world is not waiting for perfection.
People are looking for something and someone they can relate to.
They are scanning the horizon for a brave even soul whom they can look upon and say, “Wow, if they can do it, so can I!”
Putting your best self out there (warts and all) gives permission to others to do the same. The stretch their creative wings and have a go.
That’s all I am doing here. Like the baby eagle in the nest, flexing its fluffy feathers, I’ve made the decision that climbing the heights is always preceded by a bit of falling, fumbling and flapping around until you discover your rhythm.
But with every beat of my creative wings I get stronger and more confident.
My beak may be wonky. My plumage a little wild in places.
But friend, I’m flying.
Stretch your creative wings today. Jump from the nest and catch a thermal of inspiration.
The world is waiting for your glorious imperfection.
