Writing & Creativity
Forget Perfection-Create as you Face Inevitable Undoing
The Liberating Cycle of Creation and Dissolution
Impermanence is the inescapable nature of all I encounter.
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Flowers bloom, only to wither away before my eyes. My published works spark interest for a time, but inevitably they too will fade from memory. Even my own life will eventually come to its end, so I see every creation, no matter how impactful, as fleeting and temporary.
I’ve enjoyed success with my novel, and knowing it will slowly wither away, I find gratitude for the temporary exhilaration.
As a creator, I’ve come to regard transience as a blessing in my life. Just as my proudest works will eventually fade from memory and be forgotten by the world, so too will my worst failures and shortcomings ultimately dissolve into irrelevance.
The impermanent nature of life and my works have given me a perspective that I find surprisingly liberating. It’s this transitional characteristic that’s allowed me to approach the blank page refreshed and unrestrained by my self-imposed burden of perfection.
Every creation is destined for eventual dissolution back into the cosmic ether — and it’s this realization that’s filled me with an odd sense of creative liberty.
I aim not to agonize over perfection, but at times I forget and fail myself. The reminder to create relentlessly is renewed once I recall neither my masterpieces nor mistakes will endure forever. The world will eventually need to be introduced to new works from me and it will let go of my past mistakes.
This perishability is a motivating force, a reminder that my creative endeavors constantly need innovative expression to emerge.
I refuse to be hampered by the quest for perfection. So I seize every opportunity to create, knowing that it’s a continual cycle of birth, death and rebirth for everything I produce.
How do you feel about your impermanence in your creative journey?
Does the fleeting nature of your work inspire you to keep creating, or does it leave you yearning for something more lasting?
Share your thoughts and experiences — I’d love to hear how you navigate the balance between striving for excellence and embracing your fleeting moments of success.
