Monday, October 21, 2013
fourteen | practising simplicity
It's so hard for me to admit but it's been one of the most profound lessons I've learnt this year: perfectionism may enhance my professional life but it most definitely hinders my everyday life.
It's difficult to let go of idealist ways if they are ingrained in your very being. But I've come to realise that I no longer have a choice; I can either lower my standards or spend most days annoyed and disappointed at the state of my home, my lack of free time, my inability to create the scene that I envisage in my head.
So I've done just that; I've stopped trying to get to the bottom of the washing pile, I've accepted that our walls need a paint but it's not going to get done any time soon, and I've realised that toys on the floor and books on the stairs is not mess, it's just evidence that children live here.
My creative self? I can strive for perfectionism there and I do; with words and photos I seek to capture and document beauty (truth and beauty). I wholeheartedly believe that creativity is essential to a mother's sanity because creative projects have definite beginnings and endings. A finished project can't be undone; it's proof of time, energy and artistic expression. But creative endeavours are only realised by making them a priority and so I've begun to do just that. I'm also approaching blog reading with a little more clarity because I know that beside every beautifully designed room is a pile of stuff that sits just outside the frame (hint, hint).
So: prioritise creativity - it's good for you and your happiness.
22 COMMENTS
Labels: practising simplicity , simple life
Thank you for this ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe all have those piles of rubbish. I tend to photograph only one area of my home, purely because I can keep that bit ordered. I'd rather have a home that is lived in and loved than one that looked like a stylist has done her magic. So here's to breakfast cereal still on the floor, dishes piled on the draining board, a bathroom not cleaned for weeks. I have a life! A creative life....
ReplyDeleteperfect :)
ReplyDeleteSo true!
ReplyDeleteThe closer the crop, the messier the rest: true in our house. I wrote a similar post a while back: http://oyster-pearl.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/behind-scenes.html but I still feel that creating small pockets of perfection is satisfying and necessary, sometimes. I suppose it's having a small amount of control in the midst of disorder, maybe.
ReplyDelete...a mantlepiece is a good place for order ;)
DeleteOh, how I resonate with this post. Just this week, I was reading about EVERYBODY'S need to be creative. I thought it was just me, but am relieved to know that we all need a creative outlet. Thanks for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree Jodi! In fact I wrote a comment on Pia's blog a few days which pretty much makes the same point as you are here. Lowering my standards isn't something that came naturally to me when I first became a Mum but it was done out of necessity and I found that happiness followed.....and being able to complete a creative project does wonders too :-) Mel x
ReplyDeleteAMEN Jodi!
ReplyDeletereally wish I will get there soon...
ReplyDeleteMost definitely true love this, I find I need it more as my life becomes more busy.
ReplyDeleteHear hear Jodi! If we get to the bottom of the washing pile there will only be something else that needs to be done. I'm getting better at letting go - but find it hard not to let the state of my 'to-do list' or my home influence my happiness. That's why I love downsizing and simplifying so much - My dream is that that one day I may get to the bottom of that proverbial washing pile and still have plenty of time to be creative and do what I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThis is the year I have really worked on taking life easier and slower. I used to obsess about having a clean house and scrubbed floors but life is so much nicer now that I can let things go. I don't think it's lowering our standards so much as realizing that family and life goes on everyday...there's always the wash or the floors or something else that needs our attention. Instead of giving that all my attention, I've learned that those things can't be my priority in each day. It's freeing to give that feeling of needing perfection up. I'm doing it with the blogs I read to. I would much rather read with more intention to the ones that are real.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed this series on simplicity....I really believe living simply and with more intention, makes a happier life.
xo Sarah
So true :) I needed a reminder like this.
ReplyDeleteSo much yes! xx
ReplyDeleteoh yes!!! i think real is the new perfect! x
ReplyDeleteThis is so relatable to me! I started to stop when I noticed my sensitive eldest boy starting to inherit my perfectionist tendencies and I decided I really needed to loosen up!
ReplyDeleteLucy, I have the exact same experience with Che. He is his own being but I must admit; my behaviour and mindset does and will have an effect on him. Witnessing his tendency to make everything just so (and getting frustrated if it doesn't all work out) has been my greatest inspiration to change my habits x
DeleteMy creative self is something I have struggled with lately. Not only just finding the time but then allowing myself that time with out the tugged of 'mother's guilt'.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you wrote this! I love the idea of being able to strive for perfection in my creative life but let it go in my personal life - I can't even begin to tell you how much I needed to read this right now! x
ReplyDelete"creativity is essential to a mother's sanity" Amen to that. this is exactly how I feel.. thank you for saying out loud :)
ReplyDelete"I've realised that toys on the floor and books on the stairs is not mess, it's just evidence that children live here."
ReplyDeleteIf I can ingrain that into my head before I have children, I'll be golden.
Your blog is such a gem, so glad that I found it.