True is the new perfect

I’m an overthinker. My brain loves doing overtime, and it tells me it can solve any problem by thinking long and hard enough. Granted, thinking has helped me with a lot of issues in the past. But my brain makes me believe it can solve everything. And that’s not true. Especially not when it comes to my art.

When I allow my brain to meddle in my creation process, thoughts like these occur:

• “Wait a minute, will this piece sell?”
• “This doesn’t look like your previous work. It will confuse people.”
• “You love this piece, but it isn’t detailed enough.”
• “If you decide that this painting is finished now, people will think you’re not able to paint a perfect portrait.”
• “How does this work make the world a better place?”
• and it goes on…

These aren’t bad thoughts. But they stifle my creation process. Because I don’t want to paint with my brain. The art I want to make is done with my hands, my heart, my belly, my inner weirdo. Those are the voices I want to lead me on my creation journey.

My brain yells at me: “Follow me. I will lead you to perfection.”
My gut whispers: “Speak your truth. That’s all there is.”

The mantra I have chosen for 2026 is ‘True is the new perfect.’ And I would love to invite you: whenever you catch me striving for perfection, please nudge me back to my truth. Thanks…