DIY Culture
Where Does Perfectionism in Making Come From?
Have you ever found yourself unable to say 'this is good enough' while making something by hand, and instead kept redoing it to make it better? This question delves into where such perfectionism in making comes from. We explore pressures from school evaluations, parental expectations, comparisons on social media, or one's own ideal self-image. It's a question to re-examine the pros and cons of aiming for perfection in a balanced way. Aimed at high-school level, it starts from everyday making experiences and gently connects to psychological, social, and cultural backgrounds.
The view that aiming for perfection improves skills and brings a sense of accomplishment. Better works emerge as a result of effort.
The view that seeking perfection too much loses the spirit of new attempts and playfulness, ultimately leading to making nothing. Enjoying the process is important.
The view that it arises from social contexts such as school education, parental expectations, and SNS influence. It's not an individual problem but an environmental one.
The view that perfectionism is instinctive because humans have survived by avoiding mistakes. It's difficult to eliminate completely, but possible to control.
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Do you ever look at something you've made and think 'this part is still not good enough'? How do you feel at that moment?
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Have you ever looked at someone else's work and thought 'I want to make something that perfect too'?
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Have you ever thought midway through making 'maybe it's pointless to do more than this'? What did you do then?
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Have you ever aimed for a perfect work and ended up not being able to finish it?
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What was the trigger for thinking 'it's okay to be bad at it, let's just try making'?
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How do you feel about the difference between works by people with strong perfectionism and those who make things casually?
This topic is not for blaming perfectionism as a 'bad thing'. Rather, it's a gentle space for dialogue to explore hints for relaxing a bit while cherishing the desire to aim for perfection. Perfect for making talks among high-school students.
- Perfectionism
- A strong tendency or mindset to finish things perfectly. In handmade work, it often arises from the desire to avoid failure.
- Self-Efficacy
- The belief that one is capable of doing something. Strong perfectionism can easily shake this sense.
- Process-Oriented Mindset
- An approach that values the experience and learning during the making process rather than the final result. Positioned as the opposite of perfectionism.
- Social Comparison
- Comparing one's own work to others'. A factor that has become particularly strong in the SNS era.
- Fear of Failure
- The extreme fear of failing. One of the major causes of perfectionism.
- 70-Point Rule
- The idea of giving yourself permission to say '70 points is good enough' instead of demanding perfection. Particularly useful in handmade work.
Is there a part in something you made recently where you thought 'I compromised here'? Please tell me how you felt at that time.
If you could truly feel from the heart that 'it's okay even if it's not perfect', how do you think the things you make would change?
Try telling the other person about the 'imperfect part' of the work they made, 'I think that's a good point.' How was their reaction?
- Why can't people with strong perfectionism tolerate 'halfway done'?
- What is needed to be able to feel 'this is good enough' in handmade work?
- The possibility that parents' or teachers' words are nurturing perfectionism
- The magnitude of influence from seeing others' works on SNS
- What freedom is gained when you give up on perfection?
- What kind of experiences help someone say '70 points is okay'?