The Perfect Episode! Pitfalls of Perfection

The Time is Right
The Time is Right
The Perfect Episode! Pitfalls of Perfection
/

In this episode, John and Kevin dig into how the pursuit of perfection in our creative work can hold us back. They discuss how and when perfectionism can manifest during the creative process and ways they have overcome the pitfalls.

Resources

Psychology Today primer on the psychological definitions of perfectionism: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/perfectionism

Mindful Art Studio: How Perfectionism is Killing Your Creativity:

https://mindfulartstudio.com/how-perfectionism-is-killing-your-creativity/

Psychology Today: Getting Creative by Striving for Excellence Vs. Perfection:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-innovating-minds/202110/getting-creative-striving-excellence-vs-perfection

Episode 20: Are You Bored Yet? Boredom as Creative Fuel

The Time is Right: Living A Creative Life
The Time is Right: Living A Creative Life
Episode 20: Are You Bored Yet? Boredom as Creative Fuel
/

This month we explore how boredom and tedium can help with the creative process. Do you get your best ideas while washing the dishes or walking the dog? There’s a reason for that.

Our minds need to associate freely between ideas, thoughts, and memories. But when we consciously try to direct our attention to create, often the associations don’t come. Science says we often need to be distracted just enough for the creative mind to shift into gear.

Resources:

Why Being Bored May Not Be Bad: A Study

Article: The Unexpected Value of Boredom for Well-Being and Creativity

Bored and Brilliant, by Manoush Zomorodi

Creative Quest, by Quest Love

Kevin suggests: Read a memoir written by a creator, artist, writer, comic creator, etc. Not a biography, and not ghost written, but a personal memoir by the creator. Reading about the lives of other creatives can unlock your own. If you need an example, I recommend Upstream by poet Mary Oliver.

John Recommended: The Creative Act: A Way of Being, by Rick Rubin


Note: book links are affiliate links to Bookshop.org via Modern Folklore Press. Bookshop and Modern Folklore Press support local, independent bookstores.

Episode 19: Interview with Dewi Hargreaves Artist and Author

The Time is Right
The Time is Right
Episode 19: Interview with Dewi Hargreaves Artist and Author
/

In this episode, we’re joined by Dewi Hargreaves, who is an author and artist. He shares his creative mindset and process, and his journey to living a creative life. You can find him here.

Resources Mentioned

Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity by Felicia Day

You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost): A Memoir, by Felicia Day

The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron

John is reading The Creative Act: A Way of Being, by Rick Rubin but has not finished it yet.

Find Your Prompt! If you’re stuck or just looking to do something new, find a resource for prompts in whatever creative endeavor you do, and unlock your creativity.

Episode 18: Valuing the Creative Process

The Time is Right
The Time is Right
Episode 18: Valuing the Creative Process
/

This month, we go deeper into the idea that the process is more important than the outcome. We discuss why valuing, even honoring, the creative process is so important to our creativity. We explore the significance of practice, experimentation, and intention. Also, why it’s important to create our creative spaces and time.

For a creative: if time is money, then process is the currency and the outcome is what you’ve purchased.

Resources Mentioned

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

The Slowdown podcast