home exploring in water visualizing it as a lawn quiet the critic asparagus fern analogy perfect, beautiful imperfection journaling living in a 'dream' world? book list No good work, whatever, can be perfect, and the demand for perfection is always a sign of a misunderstanding of the ends of art - John Ruskin	Perfect, Beautiful Imperfection Perfectionism is probably the number one roadblock to creativity, and in my own experience the most difficult to overcome. And of course it would be given the environment so many of us live in — living up to other peoples expectations. From our most formative years straight through to adulthood we are rewarded for our achievements, our 'successes'. The pressure to be the best, be just the right ... whatever ... leaves very little room for the messiness that life presents. It was amazing to me how difficult it was for me to actually draw outside the lines when I went to pursue a degree in the arts. I could not tear myself free from the thinking that had become part of me through years of being told how to do it right, do it better. I could spent hours trying to get that line as straight as possible not even aware that I was stiffling my creativity. I effectively muffled my creative self with all that old mental chow chow. Ask yourself, why does it have to be perfect? Why in life does anything have to be perfect and how is that defined for you? As I became more willing to give up my grasp on perfection not only was I able to contact creativity from other parts of my mind but from my body which I had nearly eliminated from the process in all that perfectionist chatter. Amazingly, giving up perfectionism can also open the door for forgiveness which is a powerful tool in itself. So when you feel stuck try to give up that ghost — the perfectionist that does not serve you. Besides, some of the most beautiful, unique moments are in the imperfections. Work with the imperfection. It can become the most perfect, beautiful imperfection you experience.