Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis. – Brené Brown

Struggling with the need to be perfect = my life.

How about you?

Write about your relationship with PERFECTIONISM.

Now give a gift to yourself by drawing something you simply feel like drawing. Just to relax. I get triggered by writing about perfectionism, worth etc. For me, I find comfort in copying from Lynda Barry and Daniel Clowes.

Now research someone in the arts who epitomizes vulnerabilty and the need to be perfect. Find some quotes by or about them.

I chose Diane Arbus.

By doing this (or any of my )exercise(s), you make yourself vulnerable.

FULLY EMBRACE VULNERABILITY!

I recommend this incredible 20 minute talk:

Dr. Brené Brown is a researcher professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work, where she has spent the past ten years studying a concept that she calls Wholeheartedness, posing the questions:

How do we engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness?

How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to embrace our imperfections and to recognize that we are enough — that we are worthy of love, belonging and joy?

Brené is the author of I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth About Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power (2007) and The Gifts of Imperfection (2010) and the upcoming Wholehearted: Spiritual Adventures in Falling Apart, Growing Up, and Finding Joy ( 2011).

Daily Journal Workshop:

For links to Parts 1-25 go to: JOURNAL 1-25