Creative Wellness Letters - Practicing “done > perfect” 🌱

Hi Reader, 

My Kickstarter to crowdfund my 2nd album launches in 9 days, eeeep! If you’ve done this before, you know that it is an emotional journey, especially because it’s all-or-nothing - meet your funding goal or get zero dollars. 😬

It feels like drinking out of a fire hose, 

with a swarm of bees inside my brain (organized but also chaotic, and LOUD). 

My to-do list is a convoluted set of Russian nesting dolls, and vulnerability hangovers abound, as I continue to put myself out there.

No better way to practice letting go of perfectionism that than having a hard deadline! 

(Although it can be a fight.)

I’m going to share my experience, because there is always much of the iceberg that no one else can see!

My first fear, upon deciding to do this again, was that I wouldn’t be able to complete the project (really, 2 big projects: Kickstarter and album) self-compassionately, without putting huge amounts of pressure on myself to succeed or reaching burnout.

So far I’m doing well overall, but it hasn’t been without stress. I would say that I am consumed by this project but have not been fully consumed by it. 👌

Right after I shared the pre-launch link on social media, my anxiety immediately spiked up. I guess it was just practicing for the real launch?!

A reminder that I keep telling myself:

If this anxiety response happens to you, even at what seems like an odd or unreasonable time, there is nothing wrong with you. This vulnerability when “being seen” is so incredibly normal, because our brains like to keep us safe, and we still have instincts from days of yore when being accepted in your community was essential to survival!

Here are some other things I’m doing that are helping me not lose my mind - compassionate productivity in action:

• Continuously checking in with myself about whether I am actually working effectively, and if not, take a valuable rest (I know my limits and will only push myself so hard, because I also know the consequences!)
• Having realistic ideas about how long something will take to do (video editing took me twice as long as I hoped, but not as long as I’d feared!)
• Getting clear on priorities (I will work on X step until 7pm because having time to Y is more important to me)

• Knowing what will actually have an impact in the success of the project (with guidance, shout out to Laser Campaigns!)
• Limiting how much I compulsively check how many people are following my project
• Trying to practice trusting the variables I can’t control (people will like it, enough of them will back the project)
• Reminding myself that my effort is going to be good enough (because I truly do not have enough hours or energy to get every step to 100% effort)

And, of course, keeping my non-negotiables intact while I’m in “pushing it” project deadline mode:

• Healthy food
• Daily walk
• Sleep (hopefully at least 8 hrs)
• Down time before bed
• Piano time (I have to stay connected with the root of why I’m doing this Kickstarter!)

It also helps a lot that I’ve done this before! Much of my confidence is coming from the fact that I succeeded last time, and I know more people / potential supporters than I did 5 years ago.

I’m very much looking forward to November 21 (the end of the Kickstarter), but I’m also enjoying the process. Sharing music that can bring joy to others also brings me joy, and so does the “we’re in this together” mode that happens with crowdfunding.

I hope this look inside the process of preparing to launch my Kickstarter has been helpful to hear about. 

I’d love to hear any similar experiences you have with getting big important projects done, or any questions, too!

I'm always rooting for you, and my inbox is always open, so please feel free to reach out if I can help in any way - I love hearing from you!

Have a lovely week! ⁠

Rebecca

• How to Create When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed - With all of the war-related news lately, you might be feeling heavy, but creating might be a great way of processing, because joy and pain can coexist.
• How Simplicity Reveals Life - Another great nugget from Zen Habits, which feels poignant for me right now.
• 30 Adorably Unsettling Art Pieces That Show Giant Cats Ruling The World - And something a little lighter, related to the cat stickers I am designing for my Kickstarter!

• Ep. 72: Coda: Reflections, Endings, and Beginnings

Join us in Compassionate Creativity Coworking Club 

(Your first session is free to try!)

Book a free discovery call to learn more about coaching and get a mini-session

Coaching Offerings:

• Rise Above the Overwhelm: laser-focused 1-time sessions

• Creative Season (3 months)