The Joy of Imperfection: Embracing Mistakes in Crafting with ADHD

Perfectionism is a beast—one I’ve wrestled with for as long as I can remember. As someone with ADHD, my brain is constantly buzzing with ideas, new projects, and an endless stream of creative inspiration. But when it comes time to share my work with the world, I freeze. I get stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, nitpicking every detail, convinced that if it isn’t flawless, it isn’t worth sharing.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve finished a project, only to shove it into a drawer or a storage bin because I didn’t think it was “good enough.” I’ve made countless pieces—crochet, resin, clay, sewing—each one a labor of love, only to criticize it to the point where I don’t even want to post a picture of it online. I tell myself, “If I can see the mistake, everyone else will too,” and that thought alone keeps me from celebrating what I’ve created.

This struggle didn’t just affect my personal crafting; it nearly stopped me from starting my business altogether. I never thought my work was good enough to sell. I told myself no one would want to pay for something that wasn’t absolutely perfect. But perfection is an impossible standard—especially for a brain like mine, which thrives on spontaneity, learning through doing, and occasionally (okay, often) missing small details.

Why Mistakes Feel So Big for an ADHD Brain

For people with ADHD, mistakes can feel like personal failures rather than learning opportunities. There are scientific reasons for this:

1. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) – Many people with ADHD experience an intense fear of failure and rejection. A small mistake might feel like a catastrophe, triggering feelings of shame and self-doubt that are far more intense than what others might experience.

2. Executive Dysfunction – ADHD can make it harder to break out of rigid thinking patterns. If I envision a project one way and it turns out differently, my brain struggles to accept the change, even if the result is still beautiful. The inability to shift perspectives quickly can make mistakes feel more crushing than they actually are.

3. Dopamine and the Need for Instant Reward – The ADHD brain craves dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. When we craft, we seek the rush of finishing something and feeling proud. But when a mistake disrupts that moment, our brains interpret it as a failure, and that anticipated dopamine hit disappears, leaving us feeling frustrated and unmotivated.

   
   

Learning to Embrace Imperfection

Over time, I’ve been working on reframing how I see mistakes. It’s not easy, and I still struggle with it every day, but here are some things that help:

• Reminding myself that mistakes are proof of effort. Every stitch, every pour, every brushstroke is part of the process. A mistake means I tried, and that alone is worth celebrating.

• Looking at my work through someone else’s eyes. I’ve had friends and family tell me how much they love something I’ve made—even when I see all its flaws. Learning to accept those compliments instead of dismissing them has been a game-changer.

• Setting a “sharing goal.” I try to post or show at least one piece of my work every so often, even if I don’t feel like it’s perfect. The more I do it, the easier it gets.

• Remembering that people don’t buy perfection—they buy uniqueness. When I finally started selling my work, I realized that the things I saw as imperfections were often what made my pieces special. People appreciate handmade work because it’s not perfect—it has personality, human touch, and authenticity.

  
  
  
  

Finding Joy in the Process

I may never fully silence that little voice in my head that tells me my work isn’t good enough, but I can choose not to let it control me. Crafting is supposed to be fun, an expression of creativity and self. If I let perfectionism win, I miss out on the joy that comes with making something with my own hands.

So here’s my challenge to myself—and to you, if you relate to this struggle: Let’s embrace imperfection. Let’s share our work, even when it’s not “perfect.” Because in the end, it’s the imperfections that make our creations uniquely ours.