THE HIGH PRICE OF PERFECTION

Did you ever think of what a damaging concept “perfection” is? I wonder how many masterpieces don’t get created because the canvas/paper/melody doesn’t quite measure up to our artistic expectations? Probably, a lot.

This mindset that something has to reach a certain standard to be “acceptable” or noteworthy is damaging, false and counter productive to evolution. Hidden in the closet of every great artist is a pile of rejects. But once someone is considered “great” suddenly all those rejects have the most value.

Where is the logic in that?

It seems to defy logic but it makes sense if we think about it. We value those pieces the most because we can see the brushstrokes in them. The scribbled notes of “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens would surely sell for more than any first edition, signed or not. The imperfect things have more value because we can see the act of creation in them. We see the revered artist as human… as ourselves.

So why do we edit ourselves and put off the act of creation until we’re “good enough?” And who decides when that is? Blame the artificial standards set up by media, school systems designed to create conformists or inner dialogue we inherited from previous generations… it doesn’t matter anymore. The concept of perfection is a limitation—a self-inflicted illusion. We can break free right now.

Today, my goal is to smear something awful in Perfection’s plastic face. I want to experiment with something I ‘don’t get,’ like music or math. I want to resurrect an old terror and dress it in a clown suit for laughs. I want to paint something badly, for the joy of it, and then light it on fire all for the glory of imperfection… and growth, creativity, risk and reward.

The high price of perfection is to be inhibited… and life is short enough without more edits.