Perfection isn't possible

This is going to be a short one because my mental capacity for writing isn’t as high as it usually is. I think part of it has to do with the fact that I’m working on a mural that I can’t publicly share until it’s done.

I normally like to share in progress work in this newsletter and on social media and not being able to do so makes me not want to post or write as much. It takes a little more effort to think about something to share with my audience. 

But it also makes me think about why I share and what it is that makes me excited to share.

Too often, I get focused on the number of likes, how many followers I get, if I get newsletter signups, and other things that don’t truly matter. There’s a pressure to share constantly that turns artists into content creators. Being a content creator is different from being an artist. Making content feels different than sharing art. While I do need to grow my audience to open up opportunities, I don’t think much of it will come from random followers on social media.

I want to lean into you.

I don’t need to create content just to be able to post on social media. I need to share things that make me excited. Things that you would enjoy and find value in.

What can I share more of that you’d like to see or read?

I didn’t have a plan going into writing this and I’m just letting it flow.

These first few thoughts make me think of something you might need to hear. 

It’s okay to miss a deadline or not hit some expectation you put on yourself. 

Sometimes it’s ok to just be. Sometimes it’s ok to let life happen without trying to feel productive every minute of the day.

Life has its ebb and flow and we can try to fight it but we don’t always win. 

Don’t beat yourself up when things don’t go as you expected. Change your perspective instead.

I missed writing a newsletter for a few weeks when I told myself I’d write one every other week. I haven’t been posting on social media as much as I felt like I needed to. I’ve phoned in a few workouts recently. I haven’t read as many books as I thought I would at this point into the year. I haven’t…

You see how easy it is to think about all the things we miss?

Reframing that, here’s what I am accomplishing: 

I’ve been working on a mural that is challenging me in new ways and forcing me to learn new things. I’ve never painted a mural that will be attached to a building instead of painted directly on a wall. But last year I hadn’t ever painted a mural, period. I’m learning about new materials and techniques for this current mural. I’m continuing to do outreach to get more mural projects this year.

A while back I started volunteering at my church to make series graphics and animations and they’ve been received really well and totally up-leveled the church brand. Now I’m exploring volunteering for the children's service with my wife. I’m reading through the entire Bible this year along with my wife. I’m about to plant my spring garden. It’s a lot and I love all of it.

So if you are feeling the same way, don’t beat yourself up over it. We all have our challenges and they all seem really hard to us personally. Nobody is perfect. Taking a moment to reflect and gain a new perspective can help a lot.

That’s it for this one. 

Cheers,
Chris