13. Please Let Yourself Be Bad at Something
There's a trick art therapists use to get rid of perfectionism before it even starts — and it has nothing to do with mindset. It starts with taking the scissors off the table.
In this episode of The Creative Collective Podcast, Emily and Allie get into the difference between the true beginner — someone with zero reference point and nothing to live up to — and what they call the second-time beginner: someone returning to a creative practice carrying a memory of who they used to be at it. They talk through why the second kind can actually feel harder, and what's underneath the perfectionism and procrastination that keep so many of us from starting at all.
In this episode, they discuss:
The difference between a true beginner and a "second-time beginner" — and why coming back to something can feel harder than starting from scratch
Why beginner's mind might be a creative advantage, and whether knowing more about the creative process makes it harder to let yourself be bad at something new
The beginner's mind trick that kills perfectionism before it starts (hint: it involves banning scissors)
Why procrastination and perfectionism are often the same thing wearing different names
What actually helps when resistance shows up — starting smaller, removing the audience, and matching your project to your energy level instead of your ambition
A challenge to try one new (or long-abandoned) creative thing this week, without holding yourself to who you used to be
This creative community + art therapy podcast conversation is a reminder that no matter where you're starting from, it's just the beginning.
Resources & Links:
Esther — hosts mahjong workshops in Connecticut
Play Doh - Flowers for Adults Kit
Lego - more crafty flower fun!
Alternative idea for show notes:
Being a beginner sounds fun until you are staring at a blank page, comparing yourself to a version of you from ten years ago, or thinking, “I do not have time for this.”
In this episode, Allie and Emily talk about what it really feels like to begin. Sometimes that means trying something completely new, like learning mahjong. Sometimes it means returning to an old creative practice and discovering that it somehow feels familiar and brand new at the same time.
They share their recent experiments with cyanotypes, the joy of learning in community, the projects they find easiest and hardest to start, and the very different ways physical setup and mental pressure can keep us from making anything at all. Emily shares why a portable art bag makes creating easier, while Allie explains why she sometimes removes scissors, brushes, and other tools that invite perfectionism.
They also talk about the connection between perfectionism and procrastination, why five creative minutes still count, and why the imperfect first attempt is not a failure. It is evidence that you showed up.
Also discussed:
Beginner’s mind and the possibilities we lose as we become more experienced
Comparing your current creativity to your past work
Why adults have such a hard time being bad at things
Bedazzled mahjong racks, naturally
The embroidery projects waiting patiently in both of their homes
Why creating privately can help quiet your inner critic
Matching your creative ambition to your actual energy level
Your challenge this week is simple: try one small creative thing you have never done before, or return to something you miss. Let it be imperfect. Let it be small. Let it be a beginning.
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You can find Allie on Instagram or her website, and you can find Emily on Instagram or her website to learn more about all they do and stay connected
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If you enjoyed this episode, follow along and share it with someone who could use a little more creativity in their life.
And this is your reminder that you don't have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You're welcome, as you are, in this creative community.