| Copyright (c) 2009 Valery Satterwhite | | | | expression and take it with them to the grave. |
| "Art knows no limit, and the artists will never | | | | The perfectionist view of life is shaped by the |
| achieve perfection." - Bente Borsum | | | | irrational belief and expectation that rightness is |
| Bente Borsum is a talented actress who | | | | perfection. Anything less than perfection is flat out |
| performed with the Norwegian National Theatre | | | | wrong. In order to be good, there must be |
| and was a director of the Norwegian National | | | | perfection. Anything not perfect is bad; the |
| Drama School. As a mentor and teacher, she | | | | perfectionist is bad. |
| works with younger artists who need professional | | | | The inhibiting factor that keeps the perfectionist |
| expertise and encouragement. I found this quote, | | | | from making a commitment to change habitual, |
| one of many; to be particularly profound because | | | | unproductive behavior is the constant fear of not |
| so many talented people hold themselves back | | | | making the change "good enough". In the quest to |
| from their work, their full creative expression in | | | | create anything, the perfectionist beats the drum |
| search of perfection. | | | | of not good enough, wrong-ness, and |
| There is a distinction to be made between a high | | | | unworthiness. As such, nothing is created, nothing |
| achiever and a perfectionist. The former strives | | | | is expressed other than more beating of the |
| for excellence while the later accepts nothing less | | | | drum of imperfection. |
| that the impossible perfection in themselves and | | | | The perfectionist is well served by noticing that |
| their work. High achievers are motivated by their | | | | much of what society calls great art is imperfect |
| goal. They relish in the challenge and are energized | | | | flawed in some way. The Statue of David's hand |
| by the quest. | | | | is too large, for example. Many artists deliberately |
| The perfectionists, on the other hand, beat | | | | insert a flaw in their work as a reminder that |
| themselves up with criticism and failure in the | | | | there is always room to enhance their creative |
| unattainable goal of perfection. They hold onto | | | | potential. Perfection does not allow for further |
| their imperfections and wear them as badges of | | | | creativity - the death knell of the creative spirit. |
| their shortcomings and failures. The perfectionist is | | | | Many of our daily enjoyments were invented by |
| often frozen in the fear of presenting anything | | | | mistakes or by accident. The ice cream cone was |
| less than perfect to the world, including his or | | | | invented when an ice cream vendor ran out of |
| herself. | | | | bowls. A fellow vendor, a waffle maker, gave him |
| This is a crime against humanity. When a person | | | | a waffle to roll up to hold the dripping ice cream. |
| holds herself back, never finishes a creation | | | | Post-it notes were invented because a 3M |
| because it never reaches perfection, the rest of | | | | employee made an adhesive that was too weak. |
| the world is deprived of that creative expression. | | | | The ineffective adhesive was then repurposed |
| We see this not only in the art world, but in the | | | | when it was discovered that the weak glue |
| broader perspective of all creations of mankind as | | | | worked wonderfully well when you wanted a |
| well. | | | | temporary stick-able solution that could easily be |
| Pressure on children to achieve is rampant, | | | | removed without damage. |
| because parents seek much of their status from | | | | A wake-up call to the perfectionist would inspire |
| the performance of their kids. The pressure is | | | | the modeling the motivational energy of the high |
| delivered in the form of criticism. Children often | | | | achiever. A new perspective and a new goal of |
| believe that in order to be loved they must be | | | | excellence rather than perfection will revert the |
| perfect, an impossible goal to reach. In order to | | | | downward spiral of self-loathing and the |
| be accepted in their industry, their work must be | | | | procrastination that comes with it to and renewed |
| perfect. The pain of rejection is the pain of being | | | | zest and passion to create. Inspired innovation is |
| un-loved, a fate to be avoided at all costs. | | | | renewed, creative ideas are turned into reality and |
| Perfectionists seek the unattainable perfection in | | | | the mankind and the world benefits in the richness |
| them. In their failure to achieve perfection they | | | | and gifts of the human spirit. |
| withhold love of self. And hold back their creative | | | | |