Why can't I do things for fun? Why does it have to be for perfection?

Question

I want to paint for fun. I want to draw for fun. But I feel like I have to become this great painter or artist that needs to sell these things and I don't intend on doing these things. I just want to do it for enjoyment but I can't because I expect this perfection out of me and I don't know how to let it go. It hurts so much.

Answer 1

I am a perfectionist. Everything must work just right or things get broken. I have stayed up long nights working on projects, pulling my hair out, nearly smashing my computer, only to create something that is just "okay." Here is the trick to getting past this: don't worry about it. The more you feel something has to be perfect, the more frustrated you are going to get and the worse whatever you are working on is going to become. When you paint, let yourself go. If you make a mistake, who cares? Make it work. Tell the perfectionist in you to shut up and let your imagination take over. It doesn't matter if your paintings aren't masterpieces, what matters is that you painted it and you love it. Don't expect perfection all the time; you are only setting yourself up for failure. Just sit back, relax, and feel confident knowing that life will go on, even if it isn't perfect.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Promise yourself that you will toss them when they are finished - that way, you dont have to live with the mistakes, and you will be free to make them because you wont have the proof laying around.
But take some advice - hide them away somewhere, and then look at them much later - you might find you really like them if you stop looking at them for a while.

One thing that helped me, aside from giving myself permission to make mistakes (because silly me, I thought Michaelangelo must have come from the womb and painted the Sistine Chapel -so I should have been so good) was to accept that mistakes were part of the learning process. And if I was willing to learn, then I had the freedom to enjoy simply expressing.
If you dont know what I mean, take out a pencil and paper, and try to make a line that expresses joy, or confusion, or sadness.
That is where true freedom lies.
Who knows, maybe this is a great chance for you to learn how to overcome this crippling anxiety.
Good Luck

Answer 3

There must of been someone or something that has pressured you into being a perfectionist. That in turn gives youo the fear of failure and the need to prove to someone how good you are. We are not perfect, none of us. No matter what you have been told. God is the only perfect person. Dont pressure yourself, I think you have had enough of it. Just start painting, when you think you need to change something cuz of the "perfection" feeling, say "no, I am not gonna change it, I like it this way". Then turn to the mirror and applaud yourself for doin it.

You can do this, I know you can.

Answer 4

Well, first of all, i don't feel as if what you're necessarily saying is that you are doing this for perfection. I think what you're saying is that you want to have the utmost success, whatever you participate in. That being said, i think that you're going to have to stop thinking of whatever you're doing as necessarily 'perfection' as so much as 'success'. now, i understand that you don't really want to do it for success, just for fun. What helps to really diminish that feeling, that expectation, is doing that activity with a group of friends. none of them are going to expect you to sell your paintings, or to become a famous artist. that helps you to let go of that expectation in yourself. plus, you get to spend quality time with your friends, have a great time, and you don't have that nagging expectation from yourself. it won't hurt nearly as much. You guys could just get together at someone's house with some paper, some paint or crayons or whatever, and start drawing whatever comes to mind. finger painting, drawing each other's faces (or on each other's faces), objects in the room, or any other number of things, will be a great experience and hopefully a good time. i hope my answer helps!

Answer 5

That's exactly like me! People like us will actually procrastinate very often too! It's because we want to wait until we can do it perfectly. Don't despair we can also achieve great things if we learn to deal with our anxiety. See a doctor; a simple antidepressant may be all you'll need for that anxious feeling to subside. Of course i don't take it, because I'm procrastinating, since I feel like I can handle it better than the meds can!!! LOl... ;o)

Answer 6

If you don't want to be a perfectionist, then don't be. I draw for fun and so do my sons. I'll never even think about trying to sell my drawings---I'm not very good at all. It's a relaxation thing for me.

Answer 7

i also like painting and drawing , i believe when i do painting becouse 1. Iam passionate about it and its fun , i do painting to relieve stress ( not to get stress...) and my painting turns up really well . when i do painting i feel the love, the beauty ,the fun ... and thats what make me an artist. So do it to relieve stress......

Answer 8

same thing happens with my music... the best work comes out when your in a state of mind of giving up on becomeing the worlds greatest and you are just messing around, experiementing and then you start coming up with something and you get in the zone

Answer 9

So don't be do hard on yourself, find another hobby that you can do for fun.

Answer 10

because that s the way you want it