Intentionally Flawed
I have a confession: I am a perfectionist.
An all-consuming, cannot proceed until I’m satisfied, at times debilitating, perfectionist. This is especially true with my writing.
I can get so swept up in finding the perfect word, perfect sentence structure, perfect hook, etcetera that it stalls real progress.
When this happens, I’m reminded of something cool I learned about the Navajo people and their woven rugs.
Navajo Native Americans purposely incorporate flaws into their rugs. They believe only God can be perfect and, thus, weave in imperfections to honor this. They also believe that a part of their soul is left behind in every rug they weave, and that these added imperfections form a sort of spirit path, a way for their soul to escape.
We’re not perfect; we’re not supposed to be. Logically it follows that our art, an extension of ourselves, shouldn’t be perfect either. And perhaps real beauty is in the flaws.
Do you struggle with perfectionism? How do you squelch that nagging voice?
What I’m reading: Blade of the Samurai by Susan Spann
What I’m listening to? Phoenix — Victim of the Crime
This reminds me of the Mat Damon movie, Good Will Hunting, when Robin Williams is sharing with Will some of the things he misses about his wife that had passed away and how it was her flaws that made her so special.
Thanks, mom! Good Will Hunting is such a great movie, and that scene is so moving. I love the idea that it’s not about individuals in a relationship being perfect, but rather that they’re perfect for each other, flaws and all 🙂