The perfection trap
- Ilaria Ermini
- Oct 31
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 7
By pursuing the ideal of perfection, we end up losing ourselves and forgetting to listen to ourselves. The "Mentoring for Artists" project, conceived by Laura Andreini, was born with a profound intention: to create a space for listening, seeking balance, and supporting those who live art every day. A place, internal rather than physical, where artists can stop, breathe, and rediscover themselves.
When performance, visibility, and the constant demand for excellence become the center of the experience, the risk is that the individual disappears behind the role. And it is precisely from here that the need arises for a path that integrates mind, body, and energy, restoring authenticity to the creative act and harmony to the being. Recurring themes often emerge in working with artists: performance anxiety, creative blocks, burnout, the fear of not being "enough." One of the most subtle and deep-rooted is the pursuit of perfection, that inner voice that always pushes one step further, that says "you can do better," "it's not the time yet," "it's not enough."
The Illusion of Perfection Perfection is a seductive concept. At first glance, it seems synonymous with commitment, dedication, and a love of art, but beneath this surface often lies a psychological trap: the constant desire for approval, the fear of making mistakes, the need to control every detail.
Perfectionism is a form of self-protection. Those who cultivate it do so not out of vanity, but to survive: to avoid rejection, to ensure their worth, to feel "safe." Yet, in the long run, this striving toward an ideal—sometimes unattainable, but not due to a lack of skill or ability—generates the opposite effect: mental exhaustion, a loss of spontaneity, a creative block. The mind enters a loop of expectations and self-criticism, the body stiffens, energy stops flowing. The artist no longer creates: he performs. And the moment art becomes performance, it loses its soul. The desire to be perfect can lead to a drain on energy, spontaneity, and inspiration. It distances us from ourselves.
The Psychological Roots of Perfection Behind the need to be impeccable almost always lies an ancient wound: that of feeling lovable only if one "does well." Many artists, from childhood, learn to receive recognition through performance: applause, a grade, a look of approval. This creates a profound association: if I succeed, I am worthy; if I fail, I lose value. Over time, this dynamic becomes automatic. Every mistake, every uncertainty, every moment of tiredness is perceived as a threat. This fuels perfectionism: like a control mechanism that attempts to ward off the pain of "not being good enough." The truth is that perfectionism doesn't protect: it imprisons. It keeps the artist in a constant state of alert, where there is no room for intuition, freedom, or risk. Vital energy, the energy that gives warmth and uniqueness to creation, is consumed in the attempt to be blameless
When the mind drives too much and the body shuts down The artist who lives in the trap of perfection tends to separate from the self. The mind analyzes, anticipates, judges. The body, however, reacts: muscle tension, shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, insomnia, or vocal blockages, and energy stops flowing freely. The result is a paradox: the more we try to control our performance, the more we lose naturalness. The gesture is no longer an extension of the soul, but an attempt to conform to an external ideal. This phenomenon doesn't just affect artists: it occurs in every area where we feel we must "function perfectly," at work, in relationships, in everyday life.
The truth is that creativity is fragile. It needs space, silence, imperfection. It grows not through pressure, but through presence.
Slowing Down to Be Reborn Slowing down doesn't mean giving up excellence, but choosing the quality of energy with which we move. If we're overloaded, exhausted, or emotionally tense, we can't produce a good performance. Not because we lack talent, but because our body and mind aren't aligned. Giving ourselves time to reconnect isn't weakness, but a form of emotional intelligence. A true artist knows when it's time to create and when it's time to listen to ourselves. It's in this rhythm, between doing and stopping to listen to ourselves, that inner strength is regenerated and true inspiration returns. Only by returning to the center can we rediscover clarity, energy, and authenticity.
Three steps to escape the myth of perfection 1. Suspend judgment A good performance doesn't come from obsessive control, but from presence. When you stop chasing perfection, you truly begin to interpret, not just execute. 2. Be kind to yourself Imperfections don't make you less capable: they make you unique. What you consider a flaw can become the most vivid and recognizable part of your expression. Authenticity excites more than precision. 3. Slow down If you're energetically overloaded, you can't create authentically. Giving yourself time to return to yourself isn't a luxury: it's the condition for something new to be born. Only when you return to your center can your art move you again.
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