Discover how shifting your creative goal from perfection to authenticity—choosing what's true over what's "good"—can unlock freedom and ease in your work and life.
Love this! It's inspired me to write an article today about how I started caring way less about what people think of me once I'd worked on/rebuilt my self-worth.
I find the more true or congruent I am with what I feel in my heart of hearts is right for me, the less I worry about what others think and the freer I am to be me. ❤️
what a joy when my friend Tom sent me a link to this ... thank you for sharing this conversation and your thoughts that sprang from it! I'm delighted to know of you, a kindred soul. In the spirit of not sleeping, I thought I'd send you a poem on insomnia inspired by a moment not far from the hour when you were also awake ;)
From someone who intrinsically believes what I do is never good enough, this message is so absolutely bang on! Thank you for connecting the dots for me:)
I love this. When things aren’t clicking into place or you’re wading through sludge, create something true. I’ve definitely felt in this space recently so this is great encouragement 😃
Greetings dear one! #TRUTH!!! So appreciate the generosity of sharing your experience as it unfolds...thank you!
I have to 'dove-tail' off of Brieanna's statement. I, too, am a ;recovering perfectionist'! In my practice, with leadership teams. when talking about self-awareness...ya gotta know and embrace all of you...not perfection...getting better all the time! I've had the honor of having so many caring leaders/mentors in my life...one recognized my inner battle with perfectionism and shared with me: You know, Bernadette, your OK is everyone elses' fantastic." That was 30 years ago...I still hear her voice when I hit a 'speed bump'...LOL!!! Because of this, I'm able to remind leaders that we are imperfect beings leading imperfect beings...how do we create a 'space for grace'...for ourselves and those we are called to lead. In deepest appreciation, Jonathan, for being mentor on this magical journey as well!
I love this shift in focus. I am going to bring the question “what is true in this moment?” with me on my daily walk (which I also refer to as my wander & wonder time.) Thank you.
Dude. Ya just keep on doin’ IT. Spewing all the sense. Making practicality into poems. The revelatory ah-ha I needed in this moment. Writing what’s true… yup, yup. That’ll unlock some wheel spins. ✔️🙌🏻
Thank you for the wake up call series. It aligns with my mantra which every client gets a taste of somewhere in our relationship when I talk about "The Art of the Painfully Obvious" These truths are in plain sight and staring back at them without blinking takes mindfulness and intention. Your comment about "get closer to the bone" tickled me because I grew up in a Texas culture that said "Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone." Wake up call, indeed, my friend.
Totally agree, I feel like the journey is more about peeling away what obscures what we've always known. And, your "to the bone" reference made me giggle too.
I love this. As a recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, I've been actively working to unlearn my conditioning of being a "good girl," of producing and being accomplished, of feeling like hard feelings mean I've done something wrong. In this next phase of my life, I'm trying to embrace acceptance, authenticity, and peace, and finding what is real and true is central to that.
Thanks, Jonathan! I'm loving your podcast too, by the way. As I go on this authenticity journey, I love surrounding myself (via Substack and podcasts and books) with others who are on similar journeys.
I'm right there with you on all of that, Brieanna! I think the difference for me is that "good" is all tied up with external expectations, but true is so much more internal.
So true. And also good. So many gems in there: when you "weave a thread of collective experience", you not only make me (and others) feel less lonely, but more alive. When you "witness, inhabit and incant what is real" you spark the witnesses in me (and others). Very liberating. When you declare you are a "human trying to be", you meet me (and everyone) where we are in the dance of doing and being. Thank you Jonathan. Always.
Junia, so glad these ideas felt liberating. I'm feeling a bit of the same as I settle into the exploration of good and true, and not necessary as opposites, but as options.
This is a keeper. Our self criticism, necessary as it is, can also be a barrier. I always tell myself that perfection is the enemy of Good. But Truth must come first.
Thanks, David. Agree with you, there is often useful insight/information in self-criticism, but also so much other "stuff" that rides along with it that can stop us from doing the very things that make us come alive.
Love this! It's inspired me to write an article today about how I started caring way less about what people think of me once I'd worked on/rebuilt my self-worth.
I find the more true or congruent I am with what I feel in my heart of hearts is right for me, the less I worry about what others think and the freer I am to be me. ❤️
Thanks Jonathan!
Hi Jonathan,
what a joy when my friend Tom sent me a link to this ... thank you for sharing this conversation and your thoughts that sprang from it! I'm delighted to know of you, a kindred soul. In the spirit of not sleeping, I thought I'd send you a poem on insomnia inspired by a moment not far from the hour when you were also awake ;)
Rosemerry
At Four Forty-Six a.m. When I Can’t Sleep
The birds are there.
Their predawn songs
float through
the open window,
and I almost hate
in that moment
that beautiful sound
that enters the dream
I am not having
to perch on the branch
of awareness.
I want to ignore
their song.
Want to not know it.
Want to sleep through it.
But I think of my friend
in the Middle East
who wrote me last week.
I doubt there are
any birds left in Gaza,
she said.
Then there is no more sleeping.
Then I lie there and think
how lucky it is
to hear the birds,
though I can no longer tell
if their song is lament
or praise.
--Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
From someone who intrinsically believes what I do is never good enough, this message is so absolutely bang on! Thank you for connecting the dots for me:)
I love this. When things aren’t clicking into place or you’re wading through sludge, create something true. I’ve definitely felt in this space recently so this is great encouragement 😃
Greetings dear one! #TRUTH!!! So appreciate the generosity of sharing your experience as it unfolds...thank you!
I have to 'dove-tail' off of Brieanna's statement. I, too, am a ;recovering perfectionist'! In my practice, with leadership teams. when talking about self-awareness...ya gotta know and embrace all of you...not perfection...getting better all the time! I've had the honor of having so many caring leaders/mentors in my life...one recognized my inner battle with perfectionism and shared with me: You know, Bernadette, your OK is everyone elses' fantastic." That was 30 years ago...I still hear her voice when I hit a 'speed bump'...LOL!!! Because of this, I'm able to remind leaders that we are imperfect beings leading imperfect beings...how do we create a 'space for grace'...for ourselves and those we are called to lead. In deepest appreciation, Jonathan, for being mentor on this magical journey as well!
Love this, Bernadette! It's one of those lessons that takes a life to integrate, even while we're sharing it with others.
The relief. Being true. This is now my touchstone. More clarity - Thank you.
Feels like an exhale. :-)
I love this shift in focus. I am going to bring the question “what is true in this moment?” with me on my daily walk (which I also refer to as my wander & wonder time.) Thank you.
I like your "wander & wonder". That's how I walk on holidays and I really enjoy walking on holidays.
Love that as a seed for your daily walk, Stephanie.
Dude. Ya just keep on doin’ IT. Spewing all the sense. Making practicality into poems. The revelatory ah-ha I needed in this moment. Writing what’s true… yup, yup. That’ll unlock some wheel spins. ✔️🙌🏻
Ha, on occasion, the sense comes as a part of the writing. ;-)
Thank you for the wake up call series. It aligns with my mantra which every client gets a taste of somewhere in our relationship when I talk about "The Art of the Painfully Obvious" These truths are in plain sight and staring back at them without blinking takes mindfulness and intention. Your comment about "get closer to the bone" tickled me because I grew up in a Texas culture that said "Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone." Wake up call, indeed, my friend.
Totally agree, I feel like the journey is more about peeling away what obscures what we've always known. And, your "to the bone" reference made me giggle too.
I love this. As a recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, I've been actively working to unlearn my conditioning of being a "good girl," of producing and being accomplished, of feeling like hard feelings mean I've done something wrong. In this next phase of my life, I'm trying to embrace acceptance, authenticity, and peace, and finding what is real and true is central to that.
Conditioning is so powerful, love that you're exploring a more true way to be.
Thanks, Jonathan! I'm loving your podcast too, by the way. As I go on this authenticity journey, I love surrounding myself (via Substack and podcasts and books) with others who are on similar journeys.
I'm right there with you on all of that, Brieanna! I think the difference for me is that "good" is all tied up with external expectations, but true is so much more internal.
I totally agree. I often think things like, "Who defines what's good?" whereas no one can argue with what is true for me.
So true. And also good. So many gems in there: when you "weave a thread of collective experience", you not only make me (and others) feel less lonely, but more alive. When you "witness, inhabit and incant what is real" you spark the witnesses in me (and others). Very liberating. When you declare you are a "human trying to be", you meet me (and everyone) where we are in the dance of doing and being. Thank you Jonathan. Always.
Junia, so glad these ideas felt liberating. I'm feeling a bit of the same as I settle into the exploration of good and true, and not necessary as opposites, but as options.
Thank you ! I appreciate your podcast and read everything I can find that Rosemerry writes. You both provide a little respite from the crazy.
Thanks, Laura. I'm new to Rosemerry's work and now an instant fan. Can't wide to dive into more of her writing, and as well as her daily poems.
Aww, so beautiful and freeing! Thank you for sharing!
So glad, and thanks for the kind words, Bev.
Heartfelt and true. Thanks for all you do.
Thanks, Christine.
Our alignment with our true Self is the highest form of prayer as it emanates love in all directions because our heart is open.
Beautifully said, Victoria. Allowing that true Self to reveal itself, then opening to what it reveals is quite the adventure.
Yes, it is!
This is a keeper. Our self criticism, necessary as it is, can also be a barrier. I always tell myself that perfection is the enemy of Good. But Truth must come first.
Thanks, David. Agree with you, there is often useful insight/information in self-criticism, but also so much other "stuff" that rides along with it that can stop us from doing the very things that make us come alive.