Heart Of The Artist - "Struggling with Perfectionism"

Hey Everyone,
 This week we will focus on
Chapter 4: of The Heart Of The Artist:
"Excellence VS. Perfectionism".

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Chapter 4:

*Signs of perfectionism:

Perfectionism is one of the artist's biggest battles.

Perfectionism can take the joy out of your art and
your ministry.

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*Maximizing the Negative, Minimizing the Positive:

First of all, the perfectionist tends to maximize the
negative and minimize the positive.

For the perfectionist, one thing gone wrong means
everything's going wrong.

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*Black -and -White Thinking:

The perfectionist is guilty of black-and-white
thinking. Something is either all good or all bad.

Perfectionists tend to be very critical, and they can
come down very hard on themselves when they fail. As a
result, perfectionists engage in a lot of negative
self-talk.

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*Self-Esteem Based on Performance Instead of identity:

One of the most shocking contradictions in the
American Church is the intense dislike many disciples
of Jesus have for themselves.

They are sick of their own mediocrity and disgusted by their
own inconsistency even more so than another persons who they .
may view through a critcal human lense.

This mode of thinking can cause the person to struggle
with their self esteem because they are wrapped up
into what they do instead of who they are.

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*High and Unrealistic Expectations:

The perfectionist often sets high unrealistic
expectations.

If You and I set unrealistic expectations, we're
setting ourselves up for frustration and
dissapointment every time.

People with unrealistic expectations often end up
sabotaging themselves.

We need to work hard and aim high, but a perfect
performance or a perfect life is an unrealistic goal
that is more man-centered than God-centered.

God is the only one who is perfect.

Perfectionism is a very subtle form of sin Adam and
Eve were guilty of in the Garden: wanting to be like
God.

For those of us to expect life to be easy all the
time, perfectionism is also a way of being in control;
if I can control my environment, I can protect myself
from pain and disappointment.

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*Suggestions for the Perfectionist:

First of all, Savor the Positive.

If God uses us in a special way, or if something
exciting happens concerning our artistic gifts, it's
Okay to celebrate what God's doing through us.

God doesn't like it when we pass up an opportunity to
savor him. God delights in Worship-filled celebration.

Maximizing the negative is self-centered because it
focuses on us and our shortcomings.

Savoring is God-centered because it celebrates God
gifting us and using us.

We've got to stop downplaying the good things that
happen when God uses us. We've got to learn to savor,
for the glory of God, the good things God does in us
and through us.

Let God be God. He alone is perfect. It is one of the
reasons we worship Him and not ourselves.

Artists who strive for perfection are chasing the
wind. It's folly. We're not perfect--never have been
and never will be.

(Phil 3:12) Paul says "Not that I have already obtained
all this, or have already been made perfect, but I
press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus
took hold of me".

Paul is saying:  "Folks I am not perfect. I have not
arrived."

God wants us to cease striving for perfection and to
know that He alone is God.

Psalm 46:10 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Remember only God is perfect!

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That is all for now more to come next week...........Dave