Friday reflection

Buh-bye to perfect stories

This week’s reflection was inspired by watching a documentary about Alanis Morissette last night on HBO, which celebrated her album, Jagged Little Pill, as a breakthrough in authentic, complex self-expression for women in popular culture. As I thought about what I wanted to share with you this week, I found myself inspired by A.M.’s refusal to conform to a template of how a female pop star was “supposed to” express herself, and by the way she shared raw emotion not tied up in a pretty little bow for neat consumption — as well as by her song, Perfect, which I hadn’t heard in a long time, before last night.

Apparently, A.M. hates how the film turned out, and regrets allowing the filmmaker access. I’m sorry to hear that, and hope that another film emerges that tells her story in a way that feels more authentic for her.

Quote of the week

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft.”

- Anne Lamott

Question

When it comes to sharing your story and ideas with the world, what is one concrete thing you can try in the next week in service of creating a shitty first draft?

More broadly, I invite you to consider: What is the cost of your perfectionism, when it keeps you from sharing your voice and ideas?

And what is the cost, in aggregate, when women allow perfectionism to oppress us?

Fight the power. Tell your story.

- Amanda