Perfectionism versus Abandonment

I am a perfectionist. I have always been a perfectionist. I will always be a perfectionist.

My perfectionism – at times my closest ally, and, at times, my fiercest enemy –  moves me to explore and push myself beyond my capabilities, while simultaneously causing hopeless paralysis. Even in writing this, I wish to delete it all and start again rather than just try to get something on paper.

Years ago, someone offered me two pieces of advice that echo in my heart:

#1 Do the best you can with the time you are given.

#2 All projects are ultimately abandoned.

I am forever grateful for these two seemingly simplistic pieces of advice.

When I first started video-editing, I quickly learned that I had to abandon projects if anything was ever to be completed and released out into the world. This did not mean that my projects were haphazard, incomplete, or at a minimal standard of excellence. No, this meant that without a deadline, I would never complete any project, because I could endlessly “tweek” each tiny second of digital film until I died and still be unsatisfied with the result.

To me, the notion of “abandoning” a project saved my creative life (or rather, is still saving my creative life) because, at some point, I need to call something finished, or it will never be shared with the world. So, this year, I’m titling my 2018 #100DayProject……..#100DaysofAbandon:) – 100 days where I will work on unfinished projects, ultimately abandon them, and gratefully release them out into the world. Here’s to abandon!