Listening to Elizabeth Gilbert

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 I think having an audio book on my phone is a gem of an idea.  Being able to blog from my iPhone is not too bad either.

Earlier, I was listening to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic.  She was talking about the curse of perfection.  She mentioned that even the great emperor Marcus Aurelius was afflicted by it.  The emperor was aware of  it too, it seems. 

He writes “ And don’t go expecting Plato’s Republic; be satisfied with even the smallest progress…”

Elizabeth rightfully asks who does not find that endearing.  I certainly do.  

We do put much care into the work we do.  I think feeling inadequate comes with the package.  I think not quite knowing if our work is good benefits is.  I think complacency is an enemy of art.  

Letting go of our work is critical…and I think showing our vulnerability is a vital antidote against the pitfalls of complacency and overconfidence.


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