Chasing Creativity, Not Perfection

How many ideas have you scrapped because you thought they just weren’t good enough?

I’ve lost count of the times I’ve sat down, fired up with motivation, thinking “This is it—the moment the breakthrough idea hits.” It’s often when I’m most inspired that doubt creeps in: “But will it be perfect?” And with that one question comes a dozen more. Suddenly, the energy vanishes. The idea fades. And I’m left staring at a blank page.

But here’s the truth: creativity and perfection don’t walk hand in hand. In fact, chasing perfection often strangles the very originality we’re trying so hard to find.

Looking back, I realise the thing holding me back wasn’t a lack of ideas. It was control—the belief that the next idea had to be the one, that today had to be the day. That mindset is a trap. It adds pressure, raises expectations, and suffocates spontaneity.

Control is the killer of originality.

Perfectionism isn’t inherently bad. At its best, it encourages us to aim high and care deeply. Even if we fall short, we’ve still grown and pushed ourselves.

But perfection has a dark side. It can paralyse. It whispers, “Not good enough” before you even begin. Suddenly, you’re stuck—procrastinating, over-editing, doubting every move. Sound familiar?

These habits often aren’t laziness or lack of discipline. They’re fear in disguise—the fear of not meeting an impossible standard.

Imagine planning a day filled with everything you love—reading in your favourite corner, cooking a special meal, hiking through the quiet of nature. Now imagine micromanaging every detail: the number of words you read, the exact spice measurements, the pace of your walk.

Sounds exhausting, right? That kind of control would suck the joy right out of the experience.

Creativity is no different. It’s meant to be a release, a playground for the mind—not a battlefield of expectations. It doesn’t need constant scrutiny. It needs space. It needs trust. It needs you to let go.

When we stop trying to force “the perfect idea,” something amazing happens: we make room for surprises. For experimentation. For happy accidents. And often, it’s in these messy, imperfect moments that true originality emerges.

So ask yourself:
What could you create today if you stopped aiming for perfection?
What idea might blossom if you gave it room to breathe, not rules to follow?

Let go—just a little—and see where it takes you.