I just have to laugh at this title for today’s blog. I wish I had come up with it, but I didn’t. Elizabeth Gilbert did. And as many of you know, she is one of m all time favorite writers and teachers of all things creative.

So, she has a Creativity Class on Udemy whereby you can pay a very affordable price to hear her speak on the creative process. I guess she is kind of like Julia Cameron, who wrote The Artist’s Way.

I paid for the class and have been listening to her lectures for a few days now. And some I listen to multiple times. This particular lecture spoke to me greatly because I suffer from this personality trait. I have for a very long time and I realize now that this very thing has stopped me from publishing my work.

You, see I wrote a novel , several years ago now and I have been desperately trying to get through the editing process which I find to be grueling and tedious and not so much fun. I do find creating the characters and the book, much more tantalizing. I have allowed this editing process to stop me from publishing this book that I once held so dear to my heart. I still do ..but it’s time now to let “my butterfly” go.

It’s time to let it go out in the world and let people read it , even if I am afraid that it isn’t “good enough” or that I am going to get criticized for being the worst writer ever or that my grammar is bad or something is horribly awful in this book that I slaved over six years to write through a lot of “life stuff” .

But, I have to remind myself – “it’s my butterfly.” It was created in my mind only and no one else’s. It was created totally by me. And although, it might not be as perfect as the monarch butterfly looks as God has so perfectly created each of his creatures -it’s still my creation that I loved and cared for and nurtured and gave all my energy to for all those years.

This is the very essence of what Elizabeth Gilbert teaches in this lecture – that perfectionism is just a classy word for fear and we must recognize that and not allow it to stop birthing our creative works.

For what if, what if, someone was truly moved by what you wrote, or what you photographed or sculpted or whittled out of wood? What if you somehow changed their life by your work? And what if, you never showed the world that “butterfly” and that person was never to see it and have their life forever changed?

You don’t have to start off thinking – I am going to write the next Harry Potter or paint on the ceiling of Sistine Chapel – you just have to create your own “butterfly” , whatever that is and give yourself permission to let it go out into the world and let people think whatever they want. It doesn’t matter – it’s yours and only yours and you need to go on and create more of what is yours and share those gifts with the world.

So, be grateful for the fear, say thank you, I know you are there, but we will be moving on now. I wouldn’t take off the high heels – because those are super fun to wear and come in so many colors and textures! But maybe just maybe! You could wear them AND paint and write with them on!

Love and Light,
Kimberley