Thursday, July 19, 2012

Week 30 - Pick A Card ~ Creative Courage Challenge


"You can be busy all day and still have gotten nothing done."


It's like playing a game of cards, or more factually like being the pawn in a card trick! We want so very badly to be productive, to work towards our goals, to accomplish what needs to be accomplished...but as all artists and creatives know, that is much easier said than done.  We see all that needs to be accomplished before us and we often choose with abandon, not with a decision.  We pick a card and do the easiest or most appealing task.  Often times, like a card trick, we are only lulling ourselves into being busy instead of actually being productive.

We are visual, tactile, and emotional - all wonderful traits that make us exceptional at what we do....but what happens when we aren't doing what we need to do? We lose track of the goal, we lose site of the end result and often we miss wonderful opportunities.  We pick a card instead of choosing one.  We all know what we must do, yet it is in the action of getting it done that is what shall make us or break us as they say. One of my most hated and most treasured tool to choosing instead of picking is my To-Do list; yep you heard me!

We all have them; the infamous “To-Do List”…just thinking about it gives me a little shiver down my spine! How about you? Did you feel that shiver, get goose bumps or had to stop yourself from closing the post?!  LOL! Have I lost you yet? Trust me when I tell you this is NOT about how to make an awesome to do list and become a productive artist through manipulation of said list!!

As a matter of fact, for quite some time I actually refused to create To Do lists, because the sheer enormity of ALL that I needed to get done actually created mini panic attacks in my psyche - which of course wreaked havoc on my creative mind (not long ago I sat down in frustration and wrote down every. single. thing. that needed to be done - four double sided pages later, I poured myself a glass a BIG wine and considered torching the papers!)  During the time while I was NOT making lists, I attempted to rely on my memory, believing that if it was important enough, then I would remember it.  Hahahahahahaahahah ahaha ahahaha hah hahah....ha...sigh...yeah, I'm an idiot sometimes, but I do crack myself up! My memory is not what I wish it was...nor could it be!! That is asking a bit too much from that portion of my body!

As an artist though I have come to realize that the To Do list, as long as it may be and as scary as it appears sometimes, is still quite critical in my world of accomplishments.  It keeps me on task, it reminds me of things I've forgotten, deadlines that need to be met, people I need to connect with and all the things in between.  But the important part is not just having a to-do list, it is learning how to focus and be productive.  Also, when I am in fact productive and finish my tasks, there has always been a strong sense of satisfaction each time I get to cross something off the list!! DONE

What we need to realize though is that unrealistic 'To Do' lists truly do undermine our effectiveness in at least two important ways:

  1. Having a huge list of tasks will distract, overwhelm and confuse us (see paragraph above) and this takes focus away from any one matter, and we end up not doing anything! Pick a Card, I say... any card!
  1. When we do not finish our list of tasks we become less motivated, discouraged, and this in turn effects our self-confidence, which then diminishes our ability to complete our tasks, which of course leads to guilt and panic for things left undone! Especially when we continually pick the wrong card. It's a terrible cycle!


First we must truly come to terms with the fact that there is NEVER really enough time to do everything on our to do list in one day, one week and often times even in as much as a month or a year. There are legitimate limitations to our time, our energy and especially our emotional state.  So, we MUST come to that true understanding before we can successfully create, evaluate and choose what truly needs to be done; because there IS ALWAYS enough time to do the important things!

Well, you ask... what would be the next step in picking the right things to do?

Step two: We must come to peace with the miscreants that wreak havoc on our motivations:

1. Busy Work: This is anything that you feel virtuous about without the work actually contributing to your success. For many of us, this is truly the BULK of our to-do lists.  Here are a few examples of Busy Work:
  • Reading or replying to emails that you neither actually contribute to or gain something from.
  • Completing something purely out of habit, that doesn’t require your attention.
  • Attending meetings or gatherings that again you neither gain or contribute much of anything.
  • Attempting to “perfect” something, that is fine just how it is.
  • Multi Tasking. Yup I said it! Multi tasking is an illusion, it is busy work at it's most destructive...it does not actually accomplish anything properly, because we are unable to give anything our full attention. This is especially true if we consider some of the particular 'time sucks' that generally hide as multi tasking while we are doing other things. In fact, it has been shown that mulit tasking actually slows us down considerably!



2. Time Sucks: This is a close second but much more dangerous than Busy Work! These are things that we all do a great deal of, in an attempt to ‘clear our heads’ or to just ‘take a quick break’…but always end up sucking up more time than we thought it ever would!!
  • Most EVERY social network, even those that we are doing for our work! Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Blogs, Linked In, Flickr…all of them!  We must learn to limit the time we spend on these. They are valid and useful, but must be done in moderation! Scheduled even!
  • Leaving our work space, studios, writing desks... to get a snack, to clear our heads, to find something we didn't bring with us….this almost always turns into a great deal more time sucked away than just a regular ‘break’ in our process. We get the mail, do a quick inventory of the fridge, we linger longer than we should....
  • Taking a phone call, or engaging in text conversations, Skype or IMs that do not have anything to do with what needs to be done.
  • Online or Mobile games: scrabble, words with friends, solitaire, checkers, backgammon, sudoku, spades....etc.
  • Googling something valid, and then start perusing the rest of the entire world wide web!


"I can't really remember, but I think my life must have been a lot more productive before I discovered Facebook..."  ~ Author EVERYONE


3. Malingerers, which are items that feign importance, but truly aren’t. They will successfully work their way from one to do list to the next constantly and continually, but they are never completed…because they are not important!
These things in themselves are not inherently bad, but they do steal time, energy and concentration from the important things that actually DO matter. If it is a task that moves on from list to list, then for the love of your sanity….let them go!! Better yet, cross them off and consider them done!  They are cards that do not need to be chosen.  One day you may feel motivated to take on one those pesky tasks, well then wonderful, but take them OFF the to do list!

4. OPP’s or Other People’s Priorities. Most everyone has these all over their list, often without evening realizing it! They hide and become ingrained so deeply that you will not see them unless you take a really good look! You need to check your list for anything that doesn’t reflect your own priorities, and cross them off the list. Here are some of the places they can be hiding:
  • The type of work you ‘should’ be doing
  • The way in which your work or home ‘should’ function
  • The types of meals you ‘should’ be cooking
  • The types of activities you ‘should’ enjoy
These "shoulds" are just a way of disguising the items that are not of our choosing but of someone else's desires and ideas...throw those cards out - they are just a bunch of Jokers!

5. Memory Monsters We also all have those to do lists in our heads that never even make it to paper! Projects or items that we are always meaning to get to … the unorganized junk drawer, the bag of clothes to donate, the business plan left undone, the oil that needs to be changed, the doctor’s appointment that we’ve been avoiding (or more likely the dentist!), carving out a space specifically for us to create in, updating our website, starting a blog, creating a proper portfolio...  Did you just think "oh my god, I forgot I need to do that"?!  THAT invisible list is probably the largest non-productive characteristic to everyone’s to do list arsenal! We must keep it at bay, with sword and shield if necessary! If it's important enough, then write it down....otherwise it will be lurking in the back of your mind creating creative gunk when you most need full use of your fabulous imagination!

Now ... we have all read about, heard about, looked into, purchased and attempted to embrace all different types of meaningful to do lists.  How to de-clutter our to do lists. How we should only have three priorities in any given day. Our lists should be shorter. If we us a certain product then we will be more focused. If we read a daily blog about how to keep a tidy to do list....then we will be able to finish things with greater clarity and confidence!  Well, these are all wonderful and helpful products that may or may not help us to truly work our full to do list. Often times though, they are simply another distraction, another task to become accustom to or another way of possibly improving which we never quite embrace. So we are not going to talk about those things this week either...I know you thought we were...but we are NOT!

TO-DO LIST FACTOIDS:

  • 66% of people cross things off their lists, 21% check them off, 4% write an 'x' next to each item and 5% do nothing at all
  • 50% of people admit to writing down task they have already done, then crossing them off triumphantly!
  • More than 83% of people still prefer the tactile experience of writing lists as opposed to electronic devices. Yes!
  • 96% of people say their lives are better with a to do list, 89% even say they enjoy it, and 28% consider themselves obsessive listmakers
  • Approximately 26% of listmakers have a To-Don't List as well!


The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work. --Richard Bach


This week our task is NOT to consolidate our to do list, it is NOT to cull our priorities, it’s NOT to choose three things to be important today…. This week, this WHOLE WEEK, is for us to choose ONE one card, yes just ONE! One task that we have been meaning to do, hoping we’ll find the time to finish, something that never ever seems to get done….we are going to choose it, work on it every single day this week, keep our focus and get it finished!!

Sounds unrealistic you say? How could we only have one priority for the whole entire week? There are sooo many things that need to get done we couldn’t possibly choose just one….actLally yes we can!  Having only one priority does not mean that we will completely ignoring other things that need to get done – chores, work assignments, dinner, time with our kids, our instruments, our brushes or bench.  It simply means that we are scheduling ONE priority that we will concentrate on. ONE thing to put all of our attention and energy into, so we can start and finish that ONE thing!


The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it.  -Ralph Waldo Emerson


This process will have the benefit of radically simplifying and intensifying our commitment for the week; but it will also help us to understand and actually put into action what it feels like to pick just ONE card!  I have decided that I am going to put more time into the recreation of my website...each day, every day, that will be my work priority.  Everything else, will in fact work itself out. I promise you!  The pure freedom of having only ONE priority will make you crave for more of it. More of the freedom, accomplishment and success of having one priority.. and hopefully what will happen is that we will learn to incorporate this in smaller increments....ONE priority per day perhaps.  We could even go so far (when we master it) to get down to ONE priority an hour!  Think of it, things being finished, stuff getting done, crossing things off our to do list!! Ahhhh, like sunshine to the dark ToDo List soul!

To begin we must pick ONE card for the week....and the of course do it.  Doesn't matter what it is, as long as it is only ONE thing!  And if you are so amazing that you complete it before the week is up, then pick ONE more thing, and do that...so on and so forth...

“To Do Today, 1/17/08
1. Sit and think
2. Reach enlightenment
3. Feed the cats” 
                             ― Jarod Kintz


If you must work steps to get down to your ONE priority, try this:
  1. Build a NOT TO DO list (or a "To NOT Do" List), a list of lower value tasks that have clawed their way into your day, squatting in there taking up space that they do not deserve and does not belong to them! You know what I mean - no not EVERYTHING on your to-do list is vitally important...so make a NOT to-do list!
  2. Now that you have made a NOT to do list, your To-Do list is likely cut in less than half!  What’s left you should begin to delegate, transfer to other people or outsources them. I know the little control freak is in our minds is saying this couldn't possibly be done, no one can do it as well as I can, etc. etc., blah, blah, blah!  It doesn’t need to be perfect; it simply needs to be done! So pass it on!
  3. Now of the few things that are left, ask yourself if there is a better way to do any of them? Most successful businesses prosper by finding new ways to do things.  IF there is another way to do it, this is NOT the week to figure them out…simply put them on the Better Way To Do List, and let them go for this week…
Now, with all of these steps accomplished, you should have somewhere between one and five things on your list!  PICK ONE….just ONE, and concentrate on it all week until it’s finished!  If you accomplish it quickly (which is likely because you will not have the rest of the pesky to do list monsters in your head) you can go on to the second item or even the third if you get to it.  The point, the main point, the ONLY point….is to start with ONE THING. Pick a card, any card….but work on it all week!  Even if you do not finish it, then it will likely be much closer to done that it ever was last week when it was simply making you feel overwhelmed and unmotivated!!

Last but not least, at the end of the day (each and/or every day) make a list of everything you have actually done. The big and the small things; you could even do it now.... but do it, give it a look, and cross EVERYTHING off, because they are already done!  Now that is some satisfaction! Now go pick a card!!

Cheers,

JeaneMargherite Meria McMahon Murray Schintgen

(yep, that’s my name, don’t wear it out!)
 I would love for you to “check me out” in my other realms…..

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Week 29 – Bad To The Bone ~ Creative Courage Challenge


“Because sometimes you have to do something bad to do something good.” ~Oscar Wilde

Friday the 13th is the perfect day to start being Bad, dontcha think?!  Especially now that we have hopefully completely mastered the art of being IMPERFECT!   Today is the day to take it a step further… This week our challenge is to be, not just imperfect but actually BAD. Bad to the Bone! (now you will all have that earworm in your head…so enjoy it if it helps you to be bad).
Many many years ago I was told very specifically to never say that I’m ‘bad’ at something unless I’m actually good at it! What?! Yes, that is what I was taught in the business world, the art of deception. A false bravado if you will. If I say I am bad at something that I then turn out to fabulous with, how awesome does that make me look?! As well, people begin to wonder how much better I must be at things I say that I am good at! Right? Wrong.  So don’t do that anymore! okay?
What I have learned recently in life is also not to say that you are bad at something if it is something that generally everyone else is bad at as well. This is bad form, singling ourselves out this way is a bit of a double edged sword; we are impugning ourselves for not being good at something – that if we were honest, we knew we wouldn’t be good at it in the beginning.  On the other side it’s a bit of a reverse vanity, a manner in which we can make excuses for ourselves. It’s as if we are saying that everyone else must be quite proficient at whatever it is – which we know is not true, so stop using that excuse as well! It doesn’t look good on you, or impress anyone.
Now that we have those first two things out of the way, let us begin to wrap our heads around the prospect of being BAD this week!!

Easier Said Than Drawn

Let us begin by saying that it seems that most often people – especially creative people – are afraid to be bad at something, or to be seen as being bad at something as it might be embarrassing. Well, sometimes it is embarrassing. But more often than not – especially in art –that is not so. As an example I would like to bring your attention to an orchestra out of Edinburgh…The RTO or The Really Terrible Orchestra!  This is a wonderful group of musicians who have chosen to be BAD despite any outside expectations. They are unapologetic in their commitment to lowering standards, as they say.
Delivering the best performance possible is something all musicians strive for; yet the pressure to be perfect (or even just good) can often times spoil the enjoyment of simply playing music. The RTO would prefer to experience the enjoyment of playing music, and to do so properly, sometimes they had to play badly.  Does this mean that they really are a terrible orchestra? No it simply means that the creation is the enjoyment, even if it doesn’t turn out to be perfect, and sometimes that is better than being the BEST at something!  It is more comfortable, happier, thriving, and enjoyable.  People are drawn to it for that very reason, because it isn’t perfect!  The point is this…that if the Boston Philharmonic and the RTC both had parties on the same night, the RTC party would kick the BP party’s ass! Because the vibe or feeling of the RTC is free and open, exhilarating in its imperfection. They are looking to experience more than just being perfect; they are perfectly willing to be unabashedly BAD, and they don’t care who knows it!!  That’s what we are going to do this coming week!

I make bad art. I make good art. I make art.

We have also learned on our journey this year, to not Judge Judy anyone, not even ourselves.  So as we experiment this week, try to keep that in mind.  Especially if we are young in our artistic process, or even beginning a new one. If we are new to it, we are probably making bad art. Keep making it! It’s ART!!  And that is the important part of the process.  I read an artical about a play not too long ago. I believe the actual play was written about being a playwright, and the conversation was between a ‘new’ young writer and a well-seasoned playwright – which is one of the reasons it fixed itself in my head (a play about making a play! Made me Laugh Out Loud!) and I totally related to the young writer… Anyway it went something like this:
  • Young: “I feel like everything I write is crap.”
  • Seasoned: “It probably is, you are too young to write a great play.”
  • Young: “Well what am I supposed to do then?”
  • Seasoned: “Keep writing of course!”
  • Young: “But you just agreed that everything I write is crap”
  • Seasoned: “Yes, but it is from the manure that the flowers will grow their most beautiful.”
Right?!  So we actually must begin badly to make it our best!  This week, we are going to pick something that we do not know how to do, and we are going to be bad at it!  Our beginning efforts are of course going to be bumpy and rough, they are meant to be. We must work on building our Creative Courage, by allowing ourselves – without judgement – to be truly and completely bad at something.   This in turn will help actually grow creatively. Not just in that we are learning a new process or medium, but that we are also developing our creativity!  When we are being bad this week, we must remember that it is more of a “cleansing” of sorts. Like the way the first pancake never turns out right, and we throw it away and pour the next one, which amazing turns out wonderful! We are going to hold our heads high, we are going to Walk Tall, and we are going to be bad at something and NOT be embarrassed about it! We are going to use it as a stepping stone to embrace, fertilize and grow our art and our creativity!
We must also remember that often when we are creative, our muscles may get weak and sore; from non-use or even mis-use, often there are good ideas mixed all up with the bad ideas and the only way to ‘cleanse’ ourselves is to get all the bad out! I don’t know about you but when I’m feeling a creative block, it’s generally because I haven’t been working in the studio for a while.  So while I’m in there feeling ‘blocked’ I just try harderto be creative…which never works, and I end up making really bad stuff.
BUT when I walk away from my studio and spend a few hours (or the remainder of the day) thinking about the bad works I made, I’m frustrated with myself, embarrassed that it turned out so badly, angry that I wasted time and materials….and then I go back to the studio, alittle afraid of whats going to come off the bench, and believe it or not it is always as if I was mysteriously struck with creative inspiration!  I make wonderful, creative and beautiful work!! I feel fantastic, free, clear an open.  I have come to realize that the BAD stuff needed to get out of the way, so the good stuff could move in!!   So in time I’ve learned that when I am not feeling so creative I go into my studio, or start something new that I’ve never done before and I am BAD at it!  I now enjoy being bad at things (even my own work, but especially new things) because I know that the flower is about to bloom!!  I love being bad!!
Therefore, this week not only are we going to BE bad, we are going to ENJOY being bad!! Got it?!  Because that only means there’s more good coming our way!!  That is why I figured Friday the 13th would be a perfect day, because if you are beginning to master being bad, it’s nice to have a fall-guy (well, it’s Friday the 13th afterall, it was bound to turn out badly!) to ease the pain.  So remember the great and wonderful Mae West, and remember that when you are bad, you are better!  She may not have been talking about art, but we’ll pretend she was!

“Come on, say it again. I’m a perfect devil. Tell me how bad I am. It makes me feel so good!” ― Anne Rice

Now being Artist’s and Creatives, we all know that now comes the sticky part, attempting to figure out what it is we want to try to be ‘bad’ at. Most of us are thinking that we don’t want it to be something we are really horrible at, we will look foolish.  I am here to tell you to go ahead and appear to be foolish, because only a fool will judge you!  Please don’t allow this first part of the process to create additional procrastination in your work this week.  Simply choose something to be bad at!!  Most of us – especially as we get older – are not willing to be bad in front of others, much less enjoy the badness. But I say we must take pleasure in the badness, as it will only prove to serve us! If we allow it to happen, we will enjoy the badness because we know it’s okay to be bad AND that only means that the good it on it’s way!!  So I say do not spend too much time trying to figure out WHAT you want to be bad at, just be willing to enjoy being bad - it will come to you.
If at all possible, the best thing to do is be bad at something that you are truly passionate about. This will keep you grounded, as you will be a beginner (and bad) at something, as well as keep fire stoked in your soul (for the passion) at the same time! This will make us very lucky people this week!  If we can keep this in practice throughout our lifetime we will always be grounded and passionate continually; which can only bring us additional joy for a lifetime! Have you chosen what to be bad at yet?  Is it a new painting? Writing, singing, yoga, cooking, jewelry design, playing an instrument, learning a language ANYTHING within your creative realm or completely outside of it…begin and be ready to be bad, and enjoy the badness as it is happening!!
Remember it takes a great deal of courage to be bad at something; most of us have forgotten that it is necessary to feel like an idiot now and again, it is how we grow. We forget that it was our feeling stupid and embarrassed with our old experiences that have accumulated themselves into the actual wonderful skills we currently possess. Unfortunately when we avoid feeling silly and being bad at things, we begin to resist new experiences and trying different things; then we ineffectually stop learning new skills….and no one wants that right?! We are here to grow, learn, love, and create…so let’s get to it!
We need to feel the sheer freedom and joy in being truly bad at something! It’s easy to get started, a simple four step process…
1. Find a new activity that we are bad at.
2. Spend some time fully enjoying the badness of the activity.

3. Become skilled at our new activity
4. Start again (with passion) with #1
We can do this as often as we like this week, and I implore you to work this four step process as often as you can throughout your life!!  Because as we build our creative courage we will begin to understand how important it is for our creative souls to be truly bad or awful at something and of course take pleasure in it!
Because all of these experiences…our feeling stupid from being out of our comfort zone, of being our own wonderful bad selves, they help to shape and grow every single aspect of our craft and our business! And who doesn’t want that? Am I right?!
Run along now, find something to be truly bad with – and enjoy being BAD TO THE BONE !
Cheers,

JeaneMargherite Meria McMahon Murray Schintgen

(yep, that’s my name, don’t wear it out!)
 I would love for you to “check me out” in my other realms…..

Week 27 – Recovering Perfectionist ~ Creative Courage Challenge


“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” ~ Julia Cameron

As an artist, just as most creatives, we want to do things perfectly. We want every picture, painting, pot, performance or piece that we create to be the most awesome work we’ve ever done! Regrettably, we are human; which will inevitably get in the way of our perfection pursuit!  Often we believe that we need everything to be lined up and perfect because if it’s perfect then everything will work out okay.  Almost as if we believe that perfection in our work will keep us from failing. FALSE. Perfectionism squashes and extinguishes our creativity. Creativity is open, free, unique and original, for that to be so, it is inherently imperfect!

perfection extinguishes creativity

Right now some of you are thinking “I’m not a perfectionist, you should see my studio!” or “My work is so free and uninhibited, no one could consider me a perfectionist.”  We all know though that we all have a certain level of perfectionism in us!  In case you don’t know for sure…here are some of the signs….
A Perfectionist Must Plan Everything: leaving little to chance and pay unbelievable attention to the details. This is not in and of itself a bad trait, but for a perfectionist it can very well lead to frustration and anxiety when things do not go as planned.
A Perfectionist Procrastinates: seems contradictory to the last statement, but true none the less! We put off starting a piece or a project because everything is not aligned properly, the conditions aren’t perfect, the timing is wrong and often we allow this to keep us from starting something altogether.
A Perfectioinist Sees In B&W: there is not a lot of grey area for a perfectionist, we can become very judgemental and opinionated, mostly with ourselves…which stifles our creativity.
Do you recognize yourself in any of those statements? I think that if we are perfectly honest with ourselves we of course recognize a portion of us, because as artists and creatives we often start as perfectionist, or become a bit of one because of the nature of our craft.

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life…”  ~Anne Lamott

In our lives as Artist and Creatives we should be striving for success, aspiring to do wonderful things and working to our full potential. We just need to be conscious that we don’t allow those perfectionist traits to derail us, because they can turn from something that initially motives us into something that will immobilize us.  If that happens, then we won’t be able to allow the Creative Evil Genius within us shine!
We need to remember that there are not set guidelines or requirements about how our creativity must occur or take form. When we place expectations on the end results of our work (specifically expecting perfection) we turn our creativity into a procedure instead of a process.  This discourages us from trying new methods and implementing new ideas into our work – and our lives. It is the simple act of trying new things, working with new ideas, venturing into the unknown or uncertain (where perfection is certainly not guaranteed) that enhances our creativity, which of course improves our amazing works!
Who doesn’t want THAT to happen?? Have you ever imagined that striving for imperfectionwould actually improve the quality of your craft?! It’s almost like a dream come true isn’t it? Knowing it, is the easy part…putting it into practice may be a bit more difficult, but I have faith in all of us!

Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing perfectly.

This week’s challenge is to become an IMPERFECTIONIST!  What the heck is THAT you say?!  Most people do not know what it means to be an Imperfectionist.  So, let’s look at it for a moment:
  • Imperfectionists are often recovering perfectionists.
  • Imperfectionists actually get things done instead of waiting for perfection.
  • Imperfectionists know that finishing things IS the reward, not the praise for doing it perfectly.
  • Imperfectionists know trying something new won’t require learning EVERYTHING about it first.
  • Imperfectionists are never completely overwhelmed because they don’t need things to be impeccable.
Imperfection is actually required to follow your dreams and becoming the person you wish to be. Imperfection is a wonderful, beautiful, freeing way to live. It allows you to be exactly who you are with pride for all of your imperfections and idiosyncrasies and everything else that makes you and your art…YOURS!
There is a term “wabi-sabi” which is the art in finding beauty in imperfection. It means to nurture all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect.  In Japan the concept is so deeply ingrained that no direct translation exists.  Wabi-Sabi reminds us all things on this planet embody growth, transformation, frayed edges, liver spots, rust and all other types of imperfection.  Through wabi-sabi we learn to embrace the glory found in the imperfect. Bringing it into our lives doesn’t require training, money or any special skills, it simply takes a mind with the willingness to accept things as they are, to shift the balance from doing to being, to appreciating rather than perfecting. We could all use a bit more wabi-sabi in our lives dontcha think?! 
So how do you become an Imperfectionist? Start with the mind of wabi-sabi, and then… You find what you love to do, and you work on it, as often as you can, as best as you can, making the most of each opportunity to engage and enjoy yourself!  Yup, it really is that easy!
When you become an Imperfectionist, you not only lower the bar, you remove it all together…because when you do that you allow yourself to create in the moment without judgement or worry.  This helps to create more joy with what you are doing which in turns allows you to place all of your creative attention on the project or piece itself without the that Judge Judy in your head, and you end up doing a great job!! You can’t help yourself!
Imperfectionists get things done imperfectly because we learn that we can tweak our process and try again, and we don’t waste time obsessing about the outcome…which leads to a much higher chance of greatness in our work. You come to realize that in your work there are no mistakes. As artists and creatives we know our gift works through us, and the only thing that thwarts that gift is our ego and our minds in judgement. No one wants to thwart their gifts now do they?!!
Therefore your mission this week, should you choose to accept it, is to be an Imperfectionist.  Do NOT strive to be perfect, because there is no such thing.  Be yourself and do the best you can, be prepared to possibly stumble to even possibly fall.  Use any stumbling or falling as stepping stones and lessons. Be imperfect, have fun and love every minute of it, because life it just too short to not!!
If you are worried about starting your imperfection with your craft, start smaller if you like.  We can be imperfect in anything and everything!!  Here’s the beginning of an imperfect list of imperfect activities that you could do imperfectly this week…..
      • Imperfect Bowling
      • Imperfect Meditation
      • Imperfect Hiking
      • Imperfect Dating
      • Imperfect Singing
      • Imperfect Cooking
      • Imperfect Yoga
      • Imperfect Swimming
      • Imperfect Gardening
      • Imperfect Gift Wrapping
      Hopefully you will find that it’s easy to be an imperfect, hopefully it will not be a struggle, hopefully you will have fun, open your mind, change your life and be a truly wonderful Imperfectionist!!
      Cheers,

      JeaneMargherite Meria McMahon Murray Schintgen

      (yep, that’s my name, don’t wear it out!)
       I would love for you to “check me out” in my other realms…..
      Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)