I’m a people pleaser. *gasp* I can’t stand it when people dislike me or are mad at me. Last week I royally ticked someone off. They were throwing some strong words my general direction. It hurt.
So for the next few hours I obsessed over it. “How will I make this right? How will I fix this?” I begged, pleaded…pulled out my biggest bit of charm.
What a waste of time!
Sure, I might have salvaged a friendship. I might have done good relationally. And I do believe in extending olive branches.
But I shouldn’t have obsessed about fixing something outside of my control. After extending my olive branch, the situation was out of my hands. No amount of fixating and obsessing would fix the problem. And I spent valuable emotional resources trying to get someone to like me. What a waste!
I think artists, especially, fixate on problems. We obsess about those little details that aren’t the way we like them. Usually (like in my case) it’s all about ego. I want everyone to like me. I get my self-worth from being well-liked.
Chances are your fixations are similar. You worry what people will think about you. Kill that! Stop that.
Not everything can be fixed. And more importantly, not everything should be fixed.
Art is human.
Humans are imperfect.
If A = B, and B = C…
Art is imperfect.
It needs to be.
Stop trying to fix it.
When you’re tempted to fix it, don’t fixate. (Trying my hand at some cheesy pastor beat poetry.)
Do you find yourself fixating on little errors or mistakes? How do you overcome those obsessions?
Oh yes, I definitely used to try and fix little mistakes obsessively. Obviously I don’t think we should fall into mediocrity and be apathetic, but at one point I just had to say enough is enough. I literally used to lose sleep over a typo in something I’ve made. Now, while of course I try and make sure those things don’t happen, it’s not the end of the world. The sun will still rise the next morning. 🙂
Oh yes, I definitely used to try and fix little mistakes obsessively. Obviously I don’t think we should fall into mediocrity and be apathetic, but at one point I just had to say enough is enough. I literally used to lose sleep over a typo in something I’ve made. Now, while of course I try and make sure those things don’t happen, it’s not the end of the world. The sun will still rise the next morning. 🙂
This relates to me so much! It’s something I easily recognized in myself after reading this and now I can start changing it. I also thought I should let you know that I’m “borrowing” your page category “New Here?”, if you don’t mind that is.
please borrow it! 🙂 I’m not sure how wonderfully it’s served me but I like the personality to it. 🙂
When I saw it I loved it! By the way love the blog, seriously inspiring stuff, so down to earth too 🙂
Thanks so much 🙂
This relates to me so much! It’s something I easily recognized in myself after reading this and now I can start changing it. I also thought I should let you know that I’m “borrowing” your page category “New Here?”, if you don’t mind that is.
please borrow it! 🙂 I’m not sure how wonderfully it’s served me but I like the personality to it. 🙂
When I saw it I loved it! By the way love the blog, seriously inspiring stuff, so down to earth too 🙂
Thanks so much 🙂