Getting Good With "Good Enough"
The Trials & Tribulations Of Me, (Probably) You & Everyone We Know
Growing up, in the middle of summer break, usually the week before July 4th, my parents would drop me off with family who lived in Oklahoma.
Not too far from home, but far enough it felt like an adventure.
For a city kid, the dirt roads, catfish frys, DIY firework shows, peanut farms, and star-light nights were exciting, fun, and more than a little scary. But I always giggled and shook my head when I saw the first “OKLAHOMA IS OK” license plate of the trip.
Why would you advertise being anything but great? OK was okay. And so was that side of the family. Good enough on a good day even. Oklahoma was my home away from home and my relatives put up with my precocious-yet-sensitive self. Mostly.
The Oklahoma State of Mind
As artists, the pressure to be exceptional can be as unyielding as the Oklahoma heat. The quest for perfection can manifest in the tiniest details, often leaving creatives paralyzed by the fear of producing something deemed mediocre.
It's akin to the pressure of having an "OKLAHOMA IS OK" license plate – the internal struggle between wanting to be recognized as exceptional and the acceptance that sometimes 'okay' is good enough.
Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies
Why Oklahoma? Well, by the middle of summer, I’m sure my parents needed a break from me as much as I needed from them. Also, country life was a supposed remedy for my early-onset Type A, obsessive-compulsive proclivities. If only…
While the OK Vacay did give me and the rents a much-needed breather, my talented-and-gifted tendencies would usually return not long after I returned home for the rest of the summer. And definitely by the time school started.
For me, the need to refine, perfect, and polish every aspect of my work started early. It often led to academic and artistic burnout.
The Perils of Perfectionism
Obsessive-compulsive tendencies can intensify the desire for perfection, making every stroke, note, or word an endless quest for flawlessness. However, this pursuit can result in a paralyzing fear of mediocrity, preventing creatives from taking risks or exploring new avenues of expression.
While the “Green Acres” getaway often helped reduce my talented-and-gifted tendencies, the fear of being labeled as 'average' can still rear it’s ugh-ly head, hindering my artistic expression.
Steps To Establish Balance
Just as there’s no fool-proof, one-size-fits-all recipe for creative success, there’s not one for creating a balanced creative practice either. But these things have helped me:
Setting Realistic Goals
Breaking down artistic projects into manageable tasks and seting achievable, measurable goals. This not only makes the creative process less overwhelming but also allows for a sense of accomplishment along the way. It’s easier to make a game out of it too.Mistakes Happen…Move On
Realizing that mistakes happen and are opportunities to learn and grow was a big win. Once I realized the mistake, then I was able to adapt, and incorporate what I've learned back into my work.Ponder Pareto’s Principle
The 80/20 Rule suggests 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. Even though I have a hard time applying this rule, revisiting it does help remind me to take a look at the big picture and helps me allocate my time and energy more effectively.Celebrate Progress
Instead of remaining fixated on the finish line, celebrating milestones help me not only focus on moving forward, reducing the anxiety about mediocrity.
The path to balance between good enough and perfectionism is a journey worth taking. By letting go of the paralyzing fear of mediocrity, artists can rediscover the joy in creation. Remember, art is a reflection of the artist's soul, and in the pursuit of expression, the journey is just as significant as the (vacation) destination.
For me, the 'good enough' philosophy is not a compromise but a liberation. It allows me to break free from the chains of perfectionism, fostering creativity, and enabling a more fulfilling artistic journey.
Embracing imperfection doesn't mean settling for mediocrity. It's about understanding that perfection is an elusive goal and that the pursuit of excellence often requires letting go of the fear of being 'just okay.'
To all the fellow creatives out there, remember that perfection is an illusion. The pursuit of excellence should be driven by passion and a love for the craft, not by the fear of falling short. Oklahoma may be 'OK,' but your art can be extraordinary in its imperfection. Embrace the 80/20 rule, let go of the fear of mediocrity, and find joy in the creative journey. In the end, it's the process that defines the masterpiece.
When we embrace the imperfect, we find solace in progress, and, above all, let our creative work be an expression of our authentic selves.
Thanks for reading!
Clint
P.S. “OKLAHOMA IS OK” seems to have been retired in the last 10 years or so. But in my heart, Oklahoma will always be OK.
WORDS OF WISDOM
“Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”
Andy Warhol
"Art is never finished, only abandoned."
Leonardo da Vinci
"Have no fear of perfection; you'll never reach it."
Salvador Dalí
“When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad I'm better.”
Mae West
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
Maya Angelou
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