i have been thinking about how we’ve all become terrified of doing things poorly and not in the way people usually talk about perfectionism where someone confesses they spent three hours choosing the right filter for an instagram photo and everyone nods knowingly.
Stop reading my mind! This is exactly what I needed to hear today as I continued to try and battle with my desire to start writing and my block to it all....
It is one of the best things I’ve ever read on this platform. We have internalised the notion that if our work isn’t internet-friendly, then it hasn’t worth at all. We imagine the perfect picture of our work, but we unfortunately forget to enjoy and experience the process.
Hit the nail on the head, here! Such a brilliant piece of writing touching on a topic that I, too, feel very passionate about. You're right, there's something touching and relatable about those creative works made by those who are beginners (or contempt at being amateur at something).
For a quick story: for a long time, I struggled to write anything at on Letterboxd, RYM and other platforms where you can add your reviews on art you've engaged with; the reason being: I would read what others have written, and come to the conclusion that whatever they wrote articulates my thoughts, is written more succinctly, and anything I wrote would be a mere copy of what they've already said; so, to resolve this, I started writing my reviews without reading what anyone else had already written, and through this, I was able to liberate myself from the fear of being amateur, being un-original, and reclaim my love of writing once more.
When you said: "you cannot become a skilled photographer without taking thousands of blurry, poorly composed photos that you’ll never show anyone." I feel that the "show anyone" part is so important here. Pre-internet and pre-social media there wasn't the social pressure to put yourself on the internet and share, like a new skill or attempt at a new venture. Only a few close friends or family new. Learning in the public eye is a lot scarier, and it's so much easier to get discouraged- especially when you feel amongst the people that are have much more experience or have had more time to refine a skill.
I had just put my comment down before reading yours - I fully agree with you. The learning journey, does not HAVE TO be public - not if it is primarily there to nourish us.
YES YES YES..... humanity is the off beat, the raw, the unvarnished - the gravitational pull to 'perfect', 'curated' 'polished' - when actually sitting in the bath making bubbles, the playpit getting muddy, and 'feeling' is what its more all about. Great piece....
It’s the self-editing before publishing - that publishing is the goal, not play, consistency and sharing the process. I’m seeing it in community projects too, the need to have something to show, to present, to perform; an outcome, a change, a piece and then, the project ends and the community disappears. Consistency is lost because we’re comparing our process to finished ‘products’ - we objectify ourselves in the process (a bad poem is forming).
Ive been thinking so much about all this lately. So many things I haven’t attempted because I’ve paralysed myself with fear that it will suck before I’ve even begun. I heard someone as the other day - what would you do if you knew you would fail? Such an interesting question. I’m designating 2026 the year I enjoy the process and let go of the outcome. Sounds simple, right? 🤪
This is so beautiful and timely! I find I prefer the slightly messy people - they're more honest, relatable - and yet I still push myself to show up polished. WHY??
I could - and just might - quote this whole paragraph: "i’ve noticed this thing people do when they show you something they’ve made, how they immediately undercut it before you’ve even had a chance to form an opinion. the apology comes before anyone has read a single word they’ve written, before anyone has tasted the food or before anyone has heard the melody."
Let's face it, the more we try to make something perfect, the more we lose focus and postpone the start.
Stop reading my mind! This is exactly what I needed to hear today as I continued to try and battle with my desire to start writing and my block to it all....
Here’s to choosing the vulnerability of sincere effort over the safety of never attempting anything you might fail at 🫶🏽
It is one of the best things I’ve ever read on this platform. We have internalised the notion that if our work isn’t internet-friendly, then it hasn’t worth at all. We imagine the perfect picture of our work, but we unfortunately forget to enjoy and experience the process.
Hit the nail on the head, here! Such a brilliant piece of writing touching on a topic that I, too, feel very passionate about. You're right, there's something touching and relatable about those creative works made by those who are beginners (or contempt at being amateur at something).
For a quick story: for a long time, I struggled to write anything at on Letterboxd, RYM and other platforms where you can add your reviews on art you've engaged with; the reason being: I would read what others have written, and come to the conclusion that whatever they wrote articulates my thoughts, is written more succinctly, and anything I wrote would be a mere copy of what they've already said; so, to resolve this, I started writing my reviews without reading what anyone else had already written, and through this, I was able to liberate myself from the fear of being amateur, being un-original, and reclaim my love of writing once more.
Thanks for sharing!
I love this little story. I have those feelings sometimes, too! Love that you removed the potential for comparison/discouragement from the situation.
Glad it resonated, Amber + thanks for reading! Yes, exactly, comparison can certainly lead to discouragement.
You are exactly right.
When you said: "you cannot become a skilled photographer without taking thousands of blurry, poorly composed photos that you’ll never show anyone." I feel that the "show anyone" part is so important here. Pre-internet and pre-social media there wasn't the social pressure to put yourself on the internet and share, like a new skill or attempt at a new venture. Only a few close friends or family new. Learning in the public eye is a lot scarier, and it's so much easier to get discouraged- especially when you feel amongst the people that are have much more experience or have had more time to refine a skill.
I had just put my comment down before reading yours - I fully agree with you. The learning journey, does not HAVE TO be public - not if it is primarily there to nourish us.
YES YES YES..... humanity is the off beat, the raw, the unvarnished - the gravitational pull to 'perfect', 'curated' 'polished' - when actually sitting in the bath making bubbles, the playpit getting muddy, and 'feeling' is what its more all about. Great piece....
It’s the self-editing before publishing - that publishing is the goal, not play, consistency and sharing the process. I’m seeing it in community projects too, the need to have something to show, to present, to perform; an outcome, a change, a piece and then, the project ends and the community disappears. Consistency is lost because we’re comparing our process to finished ‘products’ - we objectify ourselves in the process (a bad poem is forming).
This is a magnificent reminder to be real, to be adventurous, to be brave, and to fail proudly. Thank you so much!
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! I love this so much!
Ive been thinking so much about all this lately. So many things I haven’t attempted because I’ve paralysed myself with fear that it will suck before I’ve even begun. I heard someone as the other day - what would you do if you knew you would fail? Such an interesting question. I’m designating 2026 the year I enjoy the process and let go of the outcome. Sounds simple, right? 🤪
This is so beautiful and timely! I find I prefer the slightly messy people - they're more honest, relatable - and yet I still push myself to show up polished. WHY??
I could - and just might - quote this whole paragraph: "i’ve noticed this thing people do when they show you something they’ve made, how they immediately undercut it before you’ve even had a chance to form an opinion. the apology comes before anyone has read a single word they’ve written, before anyone has tasted the food or before anyone has heard the melody."
Sometimes all we need is to treat every opportunity like a rehearsal not the audition
chasing perfection concludes with the piece losing its unique nature that belongs to us.
This post was written for me, thank you for this.
I've been a victim of trying to be the perfect beginner and that created fear of judgement within my writing.
i am guilty of the same! wanting things to be perfect is a major reason i dont start things anymore :(
thanks for voicing it out loud, so that we can get out of it, and start doing things without expecting to excel at it.