Good Enough
... is good.
What if I told you that it is enough. That your creative efforts are absolutely good enough.
We tend to forget so easily that to be creative is an amazing accomplishment in itself. Set aside completely the end product.
Let me talk about your painting. How can I do that without seeing it? Let me try.
You imagined it would be more. More alluring colours, more captivating shapes to tell the story of your feelings about this subject.
Much of the time, because our society has trained us this way, we think our efforts don’t matter unless the end result is spectacular and perhaps even sells. Good grief. What a skewed way to view a creative work.
In education there are too many regurgitests. Embedded like a deep growing black mold in our education systems, this spit-the-facts-back type of testing can stifle a creative spirit.
We were raised to believe there is only one right answer. Only one best way to do things and perfectionism becomes a hatchet that cuts off our ability to see the wonder of the creative process.
If you want to be truly creative, you need to fall in love with the process. And anytime (which I hope is often) you try something new, accept that there is such a thing as practice, study and learned skill. End results? Eventually. If you love the process, you can let go of any set time for specific results.
Embrace mistakes. There is no better way to learn.
And for those of you who get this - who understand that to be creative is a powerful force within you for both healing and joy, hats off to you. And not just hats off but Mary Tyler Moore throw the hat in the air type of hats off!
The truth is, even seasoned artists can fall into that productivity trap. So, as usual, I speak to myself here too.
Whatever you are creating today, it is good enough. Good enough to be an object of wonder because of the courage it took for you to create it. Keep on keeping on.
Yours for a kinder and more creative world,
Cheryl O Art
So true 💖