Ever since my CZT training in August, I have been working to build-out my website to support teaching Zentangle® classes. I have also been thinking a lot about what I wanted my first blog post to be. Then, a few days ago I realized that I was so worried about "writing the perfect post" that the days were slipping by and nothing was getting written. It also occurred to me that worrying about perfection in my blog post was somewhat contradictory to one of the key underpinnings of the Zentangle method ... there is no such thing as perfection.
The process of creating a Zentangle tile is essentially an agreement to turn away from our definitions of perfection and trust the process. You start each tile not knowing where it might take you and what it will look like at the end. So it bears the question ... If we have no pre-determined destination how can there possibly be "perfection?" Each tile is perfect unto itself simply for the act of someone showing up to create it.
I have seen many students in my Zentangle classes stop in the midst of practicing a pattern and look over at their neighbor's tile to compare against their own. This is NEVER done as a way to make sure that their tile is better than the other person's tile. Rather, I think it's done to reassure the "looker" that they are doing everything correctly and that they are on the path to the "right result." When I see this happen, I always take time to remind my students that there is "no right answer" because each one of us brings a different set of eyes and a different hand to the process. What you do with the Zentangle method and how your interpret the patterns is your very own personal thing. Some students relax at this observation, and get back to working on their tile, assured that it can't go wrong. Other students go back to their tile more focused on "getting it right" and disbelieving that the perfect tile isn't out there somewhere.
In my mind, the real challenge of perfection isn't about attaining a certain result ... getting the perfect grade ... drawing the perfect Zentangle tile ... or writing the inspiring and insightful blog post. I have learned that perfection is a measurement that's highly subjective and personal. And because we can't ever really define or grasp "perfection," sometimes we let uncertainty scare us away from trying things in our life that can be very rewarding. The challenge of perfection therefore, is to do battle with the demons of perfection and "just show up" ... in spite of worries and fears about not getting it right. In the words of Leonard Cohen, "Forget your perfect offering, there's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."
So let's make it official. Welcome to my blog of imperfectly perfect offerings! I'll be showing up here periodically to share my thoughts about Zentangle®, incorporating creativity into our lives, and bravely facing down the demons of perfection. I hope you will join in the discussion.
