HOW TO SLAY PERFECTIONISM -CELEBRATING FAILURES
Awaken Your Unique Genius: Practices for Creative Flourishing 1
Craving a touch of inspiration to kickstart your new year? In the upcoming months, I'll be rolling out some blog posts with a simple mission:
“Awaken Your Unique Genius by Cultivating Practices for Creative Flourishing.”
Back in my globe-trotting days as a film director, I led creative workshops for animators, young professionals, and even worked with First Nation groups and drug rehabilitation centres. Now, as I dive into the world of painting, I become even more intentional on practices that foster creative thriving. I hope the insights I share will serve as a reminder of the unique genius already within you. Yes!! You are a genius in your own way! And NO ONE can replace you! By adopting a few simple habits, you can enhance your life and enjoy increased productivity and flourishing.
Back when I was knee-deep in the world of film and animation, I stumbled upon the wonders of improv theater—a brilliant technique that could mold anyone, from animators to directors, into performers without the weightiness of Shakespearean drama. What a revelation! I realized that the ultimate way to master anything is through play. The magic of play lies in keeping things light, not fixating on the end result. Think about kids making art—they just doodle away without a care. They could crumple it up or proudly display it; it’s all the same to them. Their focus? Pure, unadulterated playfulness.
Being playful is the secret sauce for creative flourishing and a happy life. However, why is it sometimes challenging for adults to embrace a playful mindset? I think there are many factors, but perhaps perfectionism is one significant hurdle. Improv Theater played a pivotal role in helping me break free from perfectionism, firmly injecting a playful mindset into my creative practice through the concept and practice of “Celebrating Failure.”
I vividly recall my first step into the hot, steamy classroom in an extension education program in downtown tropical Taipei. The instructor immediately had us practice shouting out loud: “Yay, I failed!” He demanded that anytime we failed in any routines, we needed to raise our hands and say, “Yay, I failed!” with extreme exuberance and wild, beaming smiles, as if we had just landed on the moon.
What a bizarre request! Coming from a classical Hollywood filmmaking background, this practice seems contradictory to my training. Weren't we supposed to strive for excellence and avoid failure? I couldn't fathom a producer or director joyfully proclaiming 'Yay, I failed' after finishing a shot on a multi-million-dollar set surrounded by actors and crew. Who would bear the consequences, and how would the hardworking team react?
However, as I awkwardly raised my hands, joining other students in proclaiming “Yay, I failed,” a sense of liberation washed over me, the pressure to perform lifted, and laughters erupt. Instantly, we realized we were in a different space; it was a safe place to be, with room for everyone. We were invited to show up simply as ourselves, not evaluated by performance quality but valued by our wholehearted presence — our willingness to take a leap of faith, our trembling desires to express, learn, grow, connect, and contribute.
This marked the beginning of my journey to embrace imperfection and failures, understanding that to create the best art or any creative endeavors with authenticity, a unique voice, and innovative visions, we need to bring in ourselves first—not the curated, polished versions, but the raw, alive, hungry, untamed, vulnerable versions. Skills can be developed in the process. Still, we mustn’t let the need for perfection stop us from taking the steps needed to gain the skills or kill the life and soul of what we are trying to give birth to.
The mindset of “celebrating failure” is invaluable because it emboldens us to break out of our comfort zone, take risks, try new approaches, and ultimately allows each “failure” to bring in the lesson, the gift, the insight, and treasure—all the puzzle pieces along with the patience, wisdom and tenacity needed to create something beautiful and desirable. With this perspective, there is no failure—only the spoils of well-earned victories! I hope the concept and practice of “Celebrating Failures” brings a fresh outlook and powerful tool to any of your pursuits and unleash your genius within in 2024!
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If you’d like to apply the maxims of improvisational theatre to real-life challenges—whether it’s dealing with a demanding boss, a tired child, or one of life’s never-ending surprises, I highly recommend Patricia Ryan Madson’s IMPROV WISDOM: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up. Or even better, attend a local improv workshop and experience the power of showing up! It will revolutionise your life!
I love to hear your feedback! Drop a line and let’s connect!