Embracing the Ebb and Flow | Eric's Blog

I don't do anything halfway. My perfectionism virtually guarantees that I'll never cut corners on a project. On the contrary, I'm far more likely to obsess and overcomplicate my work, hobbies, and processes.

I don't have any illusions about this aspect of my personality. It can often be a real asset, driving me to effective and satisfying results. I'm grateful for that. Other times, it can be a liability, slowing my progress to a snail's pace and producing crippling anxiety. Those instances are harder to accept. But I've found success and stagnation to be two sides of the same, inseparable coin. Would I give up the good to avoid the bad? Most days, my answer would be no.

Things get more interesting when it comes to creative pursuits. If I don't have a clear direction for a project or see a decisive path forward, I tend to press pause. The result can be infrequent output, as I'm unlikely to put something into the world unless I have a baseline of confidence in it. I've found that internet creator culture sometimes emphasizes quantity over quality. Being consistent and prolific is prized. But I find myself resisting that idea - I'd rather be quiet until I sincerely believe I have something to contribute.

If I'm being honest, I thought I'd have published more in 2023 than I have. Late December brought the (far and away) most popular post this blog has seen, and I was excited to see what momentum might be there for future entries. But I didn't have much to say. Instead, the first part of the year has been focused more on nurturing my creative inputs: I've finished four books, engaged with excellent writing and music, and enjoyed quietly recharging.

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