The Western idea of perfectionism and the idea of progression

This is a comment on another post I've written but I think it's worth while for others to hear also.

I've found that with painting and drawing I've taken a much different approach to self criticism and the idea of "being better". Because it's such a new thing for me I'm surprised when I do well. I also looked into perfectionism and how it takes the enjoyment out of things and holds us back.

Something that helped was the idea of drawing and painting loosely and letting things come together. There's a passive and meditative aspect to it, allowing things to be as they appear, and in doing so you get out of your own way. Starting from something that looks nothing like anything and it forming into something, like nature does when something grows feels natural, and the process becomes enjoyable.
I think that's something we could all do to apply to everything in life.

It's like buddhism says about letting go, a perfectionist hears "giving up" but it actually means progressing and enjoying. We stop "trying" and start enjoying, we've made the process synomonous with that, and our cultural focus on striving to be better actually gets in the way of doing that. Perfection does not exist and is subjective to every living person and perspective.

I'm applying that to this and I'm enjoying the process.