Struggle with Perfectionism
Do you struggle with perfectionism? When you succeed at a goal do you celebrate or push forward selecting an even loftier goal? I confess it isn’t easy for me to let go, accept, compromise or settle for something I perceive as less than. Perhaps an advantage of maturing (much better word choice than aging, don’t you think?) is not having the energy to hold myself to impossible standards.
Mastery
Does it matter if my free motion quilting is perfect? When I was trying to master (see the perfectionist tendency here?) free motion quilting, I gave up time and time again because I couldn’t coordinate my hands, feet and the quilt in a way that left a lovely trail of evenly spaced stitches with the proper tension behind. Eventually, over a period of many years, I got better, enough to be creative with my design and feel nearly comfortable with my work.
Accomplishment
Can close enough be perfect? Perhaps. I can achieve close enough. Therefore, I can complete the work I set out to complete. More importantly, I enjoy sitting down to quilt and getting lost in the rhythm of creativity.
Finding Balance
Three cheers for a casual project like the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. When the perfectionist demon takes over, it is good to have the excuse to work on a quilt being made just for fun and not for exhibition or other lofty goal.
I’m linking up to the following posts:
- Nina Marie’s Off the Wall Fridays
- 2022 Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC)
- Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday (TGIFF)
I too struggle with perfection. I found the solution. A perfect wife.
You are indeed very fortunate, Dingbat. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Perfection is far too elusive for me. I gave up on it years ago as it robbed me of the joy of creating. Done is better than perfect!
So true, Angela. At some point one needs to ask why does one create? I’m with you – for the joy it brings me. Well said!
I make it as perfect as I can. Sometimes I take out and do again if I know it will bug me for the rest of my days; an hour now is worth the anguish of recriminations later. *G* And sometimes I shrug it off as ‘good enough’. BSC is coming along nicely.
I’ve done my share of reverse sewing, too.Just doing less of it and accepting close enough, more. Thank you for the positive feedback.
I had perfectionist tendencies growing up…but then…life happened, and I’ve discovered that in the scheme of things, some things are better done imperfectly than not done at all. I’ve also discovered that I don’t have to struggle to do something I’m not good at; there are other options and other ways to use my abilities — rather than trying to perfect something that I just can’t do well. I’m still a “perfectionist” when it comes to punctuality, and remembering special occasions, and other things…but I’ve let go of that tendency in a great part of my life.
Good for you, Margaret. You seem to have settled on a comfortable balance in your life. Doesn’t surprise me. Thank you for sharing where you are at with perfectionism.
I believe perfection is overrated. Even nature isn’t perfect. Your purple blocks for the RSC are pretty close, though, and certainly a feast for the eyes!
Yes, the Japanese would agree with you. They go one step further with Wabi Sabi, to embrace imperfect perfection, such as the crack in a bowl or a withered leaf. Precision piecing is where I first began my quilting journey in 1988. It is second nature. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
Beautiful 3 purple blocks.
And your quilting is awesome.
Thank you so much, Ivani. Kind of you to say.
No one would call my stitching perfect, but I’m fine with what I achieve. The enjoyment is in the process, planning, selecting, stitching, layering, and finally quilting. With a bit of Procrastination thrown into the mix. Looking at my finished quilts on the bed, hanging on the walls, I get a warm feeling, “I made that”. Perfection is not me. I do my best, and have fun.
Excellent attitude, Jenny. It’s so important to to enjoy the process and take pride the accomplishment.
When I was younger, I was a perfectionist – a perfectionist to the point that if I couldn’t master something quickly, I just didn’t do it. I lost out on a lot of fun being that way. Now that I see that journey is at least as important as the result, I’m enjoying my creative far more and trying new things. But it took me awhile to get there, so I understand. Your village is gorgeous! I love the way the windows pop against the dense quilting of the building.
Ah, I do see a trend here, Michelle. Seems many of us start out being perfectionists only to learn it doesn’t serve us. Would you believe my original intention was to quilt the windows. However, as soon as I saw the effect of them standing out against the dense quilting it changed my mind. Glad you like it, too.