The Sistine Chapel Effect

I'm trying to discipline myself to put up a short post on each of my websites every week: one on Monday at www.madeleinerobins.com, and one on Thursday at sarahtolerance.com. We'll see how long I can maintain that energy (maybe forever? maybe a month?). In any case, today's post is on what I call the Sistine Chapel Effect, that obstacle to the creative process wherein the idea in your head is so glorious that what you produce cannot possibly measure up, causing despair, disgruntlement, and (in the case of some of my near and dear) the tendency not to turn in homework.

There is a balance to be struck between striving to be the best you can be and kissing it up to God and saying, hey, it's done. Finding that balance can be tricky, of course.