This week, we’re re-running Episode 68 from September 2019. The premise of our podcast is that we want to help you let go of perfectionism. We think this episode about why that’s important bears repeating.
Why is that we’re so passionate about helping you let go of perfectionism? In this episode Shannon and Janine talk about how perfectionism can get in the way of happiness–and how striving for good enough can lead to a happier existence.
Discussion topics include:
- Janine’s impromptu visit to Chicago to see the musical Hamilton
- Our working definition of perfectionism: Spending more time on something than it deserves
- The problem with the effort of it takes to go from good enough to perfect
- Shannon’s perfect week as an athlete (and how it’s not something to strive for)
- The problem with perfectionism: The emotions that go along with not being able to achieve what you perceive as perfection
- A couple of readings from a great article called The Case for Being Good Enough (link below)
- How people who tend toward perfectionism let “failures” affect their self worth
- Shannon’s 15-year journey (actually longer!) away from perfectionism
- How now is the perfect time for Shannon to be taking a cartooning class (along with some of the lessons about perfectionism the class is teaching her)
- The evolution in just a week of Shannon’s cartoons from sketchy circles to animals
- How the least perfect of Shannon’s cartoon teddy bears is actually the most appealing one
- How inevitable imperfections can enliven things (like cartoons and hand-lettered postcards)
- Janine’s five-piece-at-a-time jigsaw-puzzle strategy
Links:
- The Case for Being Good Enough by Brad Stulberg. A short but powerful read!
- The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
- Shannon’s Instagram account, where you can look back on her cartooning progress
Photos:
Here are a few of the imperfect teddy bears Shannon is drawing in her cartooning course.
And, an imperfect video of Shannon drawing imperfect dogs.
Here’s an example of one of Janine’s postcards to voters. There are hand-lettered elements that indicate some effort was taken but it’s no means perfect!
And, in case you’re interested, here’s the puzzle Janine finished five pieces at a time:
