Embracing 'AND' Instead of 'OR': A New Perspective on Creativity and Life

There’s a school of thought, particularly in the art world, that suggests the best approach is to focus on one particular style or technique—to specialize, refine, and perfect. While this can be valuable, it can also feel limiting, especially for those of us who feel pulled in multiple directions. Life itself often presents us with choices that seem mutually exclusive, creating a sense of conflict or pressure to define ourselves in one way or another.
Have you ever felt like you had to be one thing OR another? An artist OR a businessperson? A parent OR an ambitious professional? Creative OR structured? This year, I’m choosing to embrace a different perspective—the power of 'AND' rather than 'OR.'

The False Dichotomy of 'OR'
We often box ourselves into a binary mindset, thinking we must choose between two seemingly opposing ideas. But life isn’t that black and white. Consider these examples:
·    I can have faith that God loves me AND still feel anger or frustration about a situation I don’t understand.
·    A parent can love their child more than anything AND still feel exasperated when that child tests their patience.
·    I can be excited to create a new piece of artwork AND feel intimidated by the blank canvas in front of me.
Embracing 'AND' allows us to honour our full range of emotions and experiences without feeling like we are contradicting ourselves.
The Link Between 'OR' Thinking and Perfectionism
Perhaps, for many of us, perfectionism reinforces this false sense of either/or thinking. Take the example of starting a new painting. I might tell myself: I should be able to create this perfectly OR I shouldn’t do it at all.  This belief can paralyze me, preventing me from even beginning. But what if I embraced a different approach?
What if I can be happy thinking that ‘I can spend a whole day painting AND not have anything finished to show for it’.  That doesn’t mean the time was wasted. The process itself is valuable. Creativity, growth, and learning all live in the messy middle—not in an unattainable state of perfection.

Accepting the Complexity of Our Desires
We all hold complex, sometimes contradictory feelings about different aspects of our lives:
·    I want to feel healthier AND I don’t like waking up at 5 a.m. to work out.
·    I love my work AND sometimes I need a break from it.
·    I want to challenge myself creatively AND I fear failure.
The key is recognizing that these opposing thoughts or emotions don’t cancel each other out. They can coexist. The only time this duality becomes a problem is when it stops us from pursuing something we truly want, or perhaps, stops us from growing into habits and lifestyle that is, genuinely ‘better’ for us.  For example, I have lost count of the number of times I’ve given up on a healthier eating or continuing with the beneficial morning stretches because of the all or nothing thinking, ‘I’ve eaten those chocolate biscuits so I’ll just give up this food plan’.

The Freedom of 'AND'
When we allow ourselves to embrace 'AND,' we open up more possibilities. We give ourselves permission to be both structured AND spontaneous, disciplined AND playful, confident AND uncertain. We release the pressure to fit into a single box and instead embrace the richness of our multidimensional selves.
So, what would you do if you embraced 'AND' instead of 'OR' in your life? What dreams, projects, or possibilities might open up for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts!