EMBRACING

IMPERFECTION
Creativity as the Antidote to
Perfectionism
Julie de Azevedo Hanks, LCSW
Owner & Executive Director
Wasatch Family Therapy, LLC

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@Julie_Hanks
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#UVUCreativity

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How Would You Describe

Perfectionism?

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* PERFECTIONISM
* Conforming
* Rigid
* Disconnected
* Closed/Guarded
* Precise
* Exhausting
* Constant Pressure
* Conformity
* Preconceived
* Safety
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* CREATIVITY
* Transforming
* Free/Novel
* Connected to self
* Open
* Flow
* Energizing
* Letting go
* Authentic
* Novel/improvisation
* Risk

1) Perfectionism
is driven by fear
of disconnection
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Why Do We Fear
Disconnection?
*Rugged individualism
* Whitesnake: Here I Go Again
* Simon & Garfunkle: I Am An Island

*Wired to connect/attach
*Our survival depends on it
*Social isolation is painful
*Humans born helpless attachment
behavioral system
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The Ladder & The Field

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Brene Brown on Perfectionism

Hustling for love
Perform, perfect, please

*Perfectionism externally motivate
or self-critical
*Healthy Striving -Striving for
excellence and internally motivated

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*Perfectionism is a self destructive

and addictive belief system that
fuels this primary thought: If I look
perfect, and do everything
perfectly, I can avoid or minimize
the painful feelings of shame,
judgment, and blame.

Bren Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're
Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

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2) Cultivating
creativity can help
embrace
imperfection

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Creativity Dened
Process of transforming of
existing materials into new
forms or processes that are
useful, ethical, aesthetic, and
benecial.
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Embracing
My Imperfect
Performances

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Chinese
Master
Painter

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3) Creativity as an
Approach to Life
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Living ones life can be

highly creative act; molding
ones self may be the
ultimate creative act

Daniels, S. (1998). A kaleidoscopic view: Reections on the creative self.
Roeper Review, 20, 154-158. doi:10.1080/02783199809553882

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FIND FLOW
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Find Your Flow

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
(Me-High-Chick-Sent-Me-High)
Flow an autotelic experience of total
immersion in an activity that is almost
automatic, eortless, yet highly focused
state of consciousness.
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EMBRACE
AND
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10 Paradoxical Qualities of
Highly Creative People

*High physical energy/often quiet & restful

*smart/nave
*playfulness/discipline
*Imagination & fantasy/sense of reality
*extroverted/introverted

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: Flow and the psychology of discovery or

invention. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
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10 Paradoxical Qualities of Highly

Creative People

*humble/proud
*masculine/feminine qualities
*rebellious/conservative
*passionate about work/able to remain
objective
*deep suering /high degree of enjoyment
and happiness.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: Flow and the psychology of discovery or

invention. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
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PRACTICE
IMPROVISATION
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Denition of Improvise

Create and perform
spontaneously or without
preparation.
Produce or make (something)
from whatever is available.
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Learn To Improvise

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Percussion Parenting

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Persian
Flaw

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Key Points
1. Perfectionism is driven by fear of
disconnection
2. Cultivating creativity can help
embrace imperfection
3. Creativity is an approach to life
1.
2.
3.
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Find Your Flow

Embrace And
Practice Improvisation

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Q & A
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Thank You UVU!

JulieHanks.com
WasatchFamilyTherapy.com

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