Whenever I hit *publish* on one of these mini-letters, I feel a surge of excitement and possibility. Another one in the can– yes! Another step closer to calling myself a writer without the guilt of imposter syndrome looming over my shoulder. The momentum of accomplishment usually lasts for a week or two; just long enough to draft another outline before the gentle whispers of doubt take hold.
In an effort to reshape my – sometimes – counterproductive internal dialogue, I recently began reflecting on why I pursued writing to begin with. My critique shifted from evaluation-led (is this good?) to emotion-led (what do I enjoy most about writing?), I found the pieces that I loved most in the process and ways to maximize those to keep going. This realization reminded me that by falling in love with the journey, I would naturally enjoy practice and inevitably improve with consistent application.
For those of us, myself included, who default to, ‘practice makes perfect,’ I encourage you to examine your own definition of ‘perfect’ and how it might be holding you back. What does ‘perfect’ even mean? Are you procrastinating because you’re aiming for an imaginary ideal that you don’t even have a clear notion of? What could reduce, or even eliminate that barrier to entry?
Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from taking flight.
- Bréne Brown
Practice serves as the crux of improvement. Whether that’s something as nebulous as self-love, or as pragmatic as baking sourdough, we only get better with multiple iterations. By removing the shame associated with ‘not good enough’ (a belief that I’ve personally carried for far too long) we have the opportunity to reshape our perspectives and find freedom in slow, steady steps forward.
Truthfully, I don’t know where exactly this mini-letter is headed in the long run. And I don’t know that I need to know. What I do know is that it’s been a safe space for exploration and creation. I know that I relish the process of drafting, refining, publishing, reflecting, and repeating. I know that progress feels inviting, and these days… progress is more than enough.
To all my fellow creatives, let this be a reminder that practice makes progress. Until the next one. xx
I really like that phrase - 'practice makes progress'. Definitely gonna keep that one in my arsenal for those moments of doubt.
Enjoyed the message (once again 😊). The journey is really the purpose. Along that path we generally find something unexpectedly beautiful. Let's all keep progressing with purpose.