PERFECTION

“Stop beating yourself up”

“You are too hard on yourself”

“You are doing a good job!”

This is what I regularly hear in my work.

From everyone around me.

Family.

Friends.

Work.

And they’re right.

My biggest adversary isn’t other creatives.

No.

It’s perfection.

It likes to remind me everyday that I’m not good enough.

Pointing out flaws in my work.

Questioning my passion and energy.

Like a series of mind games.

Grinding me down, until the day feels lost.

Perfection is merciless.

Over the lockdown I have struggled.

Struggled to find rhythm.

And with autism, that can be a big problem.

You want your day to be perfect.

To do things right.

Right down to the smallest detail.

Especially in something you love.

Our world is revolved around it.

And when we make mistakes.

Get something wrong.

We emotionally beat ourselves up about it.

It’s a vicious cycle of trial and error.

And I regularly find myself stuck.

Stuck in the rut of restarting my day.

Over, and over again, whenever things don’t go to plan.

It’s a serious perfection complex.

And I am fighting with it.

But the funniest thing is…

perfection has been with me since I picked up a pencil.

It’s has gotten me from living with my parents, to working in top creative agencies.

And with autism, striving to be perfect at something you love is part of you.

Being autistic, perfection is enhanced mentally.

It breaks so many barriers, like being confident around other people.

And when I figured out I was good at something, I completely changed.

I strived to be better, building myself, growing into the role.

Not being startled by others, rising to the challenge.

Perfection has been holding my hand all the way.

Writing ads upon ads, until I got it right.

Changing my portfolio every week.

Finding a creative partner that challenges me.

Perfection was the difference between me, and the rest of the competition.

When they were satisfied.

I was never satisfied.

It’s a gift, especially for those with autism.

So when your brain is beating you down.

And you’re having one of those days where you’re struggling.

Remember, perfection is your best friend.

If you didn’t strive for perfection, you wouldn’t be great.