Transmuting perfectionism into creativity
Welcome to March, my friend, and your monthly alchemical attunement.
An alchemical attunement is the process of...
✨ Using our own wisdom and evolution as a tuning fork, bringing us into vibration with our highest Self.
✨ Bridging the mystical and the mundane, the spiritual and practical, spirit and soul, joy and grief.
✨ Transmuting our "base materials" into gold... turning pain into power, wounds into wisdom, and grief into grace.
Today's attunement is about transmuting your perfectionistic tendencies into pure, bright, potent creative energy.
Addicted to perfection
In The FourFold Way, author and anthropologist Angeles Arrien names 4 universal addictions. The second of these four is the addiction to perfection. She says, "Some indigenous societies clearly see the difference between perfection and excellence. Perfection does not tolerate mistakes, whereas excellence incorporates and learns from mistakes. People who have an addiction to perfection have little tolerance for mistakes or exposure of vulnerability of any kind. They equate vulnerability with weakness rather than strength. Contrary to this view, indigenous societies see the expression of vulnerability as an expression of strength. They inherently understand that vulnerability springs from the authentic self."
Perfectionism = FEAR
When we're hyper-focused on getting it perfect, we let fear drive the vehicle of our creations and visions. We aren't nearly as productive, because we're constantly second-guessing our intuitive hits, overriding our gut knowing and talking ourself out of following the deep wisdom of our heart, mind, body and spirit. All of that self-doubt leads to getting less done, more procrastination, and expressions that feel hollow rather than richly authentic.
Your Perfectionist archetype is married to your Inner Critic
and they make a gruesome union indeed! It is our inner critic that chews our ear off about how much better we could have done, how stupid that phrase was that just came out of our mouth, how ridiculous we sounded when pitching that idea or sang that song... As the Critic complains and nitpicks, the Perfectionist responds with increasing effort to meet the Critics standards. The Critics standards become more impossible, and the Perfectionist responds with more efforting, more trying, or perhaps abandons the project altogether, claiming defeat under the unreachable expectations. Can you see the toxic dance we're doing, 'round and 'round?
If we allow these dynamics to expand (both the Inner Critic running amuck and the Perfectionist going unchecked), we're looking at an unbearable life of tension, pressure, and inauthenticity— not to mention a serious lack of creativity, productivity and JOY!
How does all this land with you thus far, Kate?
How about we dance into the laboratory of inquiry and take some aligned actions to separate this unhealthy marriage? Because I believe on the other side of our perfectionistic tendencies is the best work of our lives.
So join me. Light a candle and prepare a cup of tea, coffee, cacao or your libation of choice.
Let's ritualize.
✨ 5 Alchemical Inquiries ✨
Grab a journal and explore these questions:
1. Where is your perfectionist showing up right now?
2. How is perfectionism getting in the way of your current projects, visions or creations?
3. Describe your Inner Critic: do they remind you of a character from a book/film/show?
4. If your Inner Critic had a name, what would it be?
5. What does your wisest, highest self have to say to your Inner Critic today?
✨ Alchemical Attunement ✨
Get out of your own way
As you read your answers to the queries above, tune in... what is ONE action step you could take today to get out of your own way and take imperfect action? This could be personal or professional. Perhaps it entails a messy conversation you're nervous to have with your partner or friend. Perhaps it's publishing a newsletter, blog or social media post. Get specific and write it down. If you leaned into this question daily, I guarantee you would have a truly miraculous March! Keep this question handy, write it on a post-it and place it near your desk or bedside table. Let it permeate your every cell, and keep asking... "what's the ONE action I can take today to get out of my own way?"
✨ March Mantra ✨
IMPERFECT ACTION IS BETTER THAN PERFECT INACTION
So, Kate, what's the action step that came forward? Whats your biggest aha from the inquiries?
Hit reply and let me know!
Thanks for the gift of your presence today. I'm honored you'd spend some of your precious time with me.
May you release some of the tightness and expectation around perfectionism. There's a better way.
To deliciously imperfect action,
Britta
