Perfectionism Creates Procrastination
““There is NO way! I am NEVER going to get those points to meet!” If you have ever ventured into the world of creating a half-square triangle quilt or tackled any block that involves those tricky points, you have likely heard that same exclamation ringing loudly and clearly in your head. “Oh, you’ll just love paper piecing! The angles and points always come out perfectly aligned.” Nope! That sweet promise wasn’t true either. Imagine this: I had twelve of these agonizing blocks to make, all demanding my attention and precision. I literally lost hair, and probably a few brain cells too, while struggling through the creation of the very first one. “Maybe I should just make a cozy pillow instead,” I told myself, rationalizing my way out of the challenge. But deep down, that competitive (and that pesky penny-pinching) side of me was resolute in the belief that ONE DAY I would finish this quilt project. Surely, one day in the faaarrrrr future, I would somehow become better at this. What was really happening behind the scenes, however, was my fear of failure creeping in, while my perfectionism effectively blocked me from fully enjoying the creative process that I clearly loved - most of the time.
Perfectionism and procrastination are intrinsically linked in a complicated dance that many of us know all too well. The high standards we impose on ourselves, combined with our deep-seated fear of failure that’s associated with perfectionism, definitely lead to delaying or even completely avoiding tasks. This is true even for activities you typically enjoy, and it serves as a coping mechanism for the distress and anxiety associated with the possibility of not meeting those lofty standards. As a result, this behavior causes paralyzing anxiety to take root, creating a cycle where tasks are postponed indefinitely just to avoid the discomfort of potentially failing. Hence, there lies the bag of pre-cut fabric in my closet, patiently waiting to be completed. Ssshhhhh.
Conducting various workshops, I often observe some creatives who find themselves trapped in a perfectionism-induced procrastination cycle. They set such impossibly high standards that they feel it’s nearly impossible to even try or get started on their projects. Other signs of this struggle include endless revisions in attempts to make every detail perfect (like my points!) and an all-or-nothing approach when it comes to completing assignments, leading to feelings of frustration. Sound familiar?! In contrast, it’s interesting to note that perfectionism and procrastination can sometimes have a surprisingly positive impact on the creative process. Perfectly balancing these aspects can lead to growth and exploration in our creative journeys.Perfectionism can drive a strong motivation for attention to detail and ultimately lead to high-quality outcomes that we can all be proud of. We all strive to do our very best in everything we undertake. However, sometimes, it truly IS best to take a step back and walk away from a project for a while. This purposeful procrastination can provide valuable time for reflection and deeper insight as we thoughtfully choose fabrics, patterns, styles, and other elements. The important piece of both of these traits—perfectionism and procrastination—is finding a harmonious balance when either trait might become too restrictive or counterproductive in our creative endeavors.
Breaking the cycle of perfectionism-induced procrastination truly starts with actively challenging our deeply ingrained perfectionistic thought patterns and beliefs. Learning to embrace the beauty of imperfections can free us up to begin the wonderful projects that we may initially feel we cannot execute perfectly. We should consistently remind ourselves that we are in the process of learning and, above all, we want to truly enjoy every step of the creative journey. After all, isn’t that the ultimate point of it all? By gradually exposing ourselves to the idea of imperfection and bravely stepping outside of the box of what some see as rigid quilting rules, we can completely reframe how we think about success and failure in our artistic endeavors. "Done is better than perfect" has become my new motto, a refreshing mantra that guides me. Surprisingly, as I have adopted a more relaxed “just try it” and “just do it” attitude, I have found myself becoming much more at ease as a fiber artist, and I have developed a newfound interest in projects that I once saw as impossible to conquer. So, there you have it… my block of unmatched points - done!
