The Taste Gap
narrow the gap, execute the vision
When your vision for a project outpaces your ability to create it, that is called The Taste Gap.
Originally coined by Ira Glass in this famous quote.
This botched fresco restoration is the embodiment of the taste gap.
The vision is there. The courage, the inspiration, the energy, while the execution lags.
The taste gap will humble you like nothing else. The taste gap can also trap you. The reality of the gap can feel overwhelming, like there is no way to narrow the space between your current abilities, and your desired outcome. Which opens the door to all of our favorite things, quitting, comparison, spiral of doom. Yay!
With a reframe, I find the taste gap to be a really strong compass.
The Gap Presents Two Choices:
Acknowledge your limits and choose not to pursue narrowing the gap.
Acknowledge the gap and work towards narrowing it.
Once you’ve decided to narrow the gap, the only way to get out of the gap is to finish the work. You have to actively work on improving your skills and abilities. Finish the work. Write the book. Weave the basket. Make the content. Get your reps in.
I think the taste gap is quite a marvelous place to be because it shows you that you have good taste. You have a good vision. And ultimately it’s up to you to push through the discomfort of not yet being where you want to be.
Pushing Through The Discomfort:
Stop comparing where you are from where you want to be. The version of you right now is a younger version of you’s dream. A younger version of you would dream to be where you are now. Celebrate the gain of how far you’ve come, and keep going. Book recommendation below if this speaks to you.
Create deadlines if you need help finishing a piece. Perfectionism might tempt you to stay where you are, but you have to complete the piece to close the gap.
There are lessons in completing a piece of work that you can never learn by thinking about finishing it. There are things that only come into view when pushing through that place of discomfort. Overcoming resistance is the hardest barrier with the greatest fruit on the other side.
There is a strong narrative around the idea that if you “do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” And I think this points to the idea that it should all be easy. That anything challenging is evidence its not right. But I disagree!! A lot of wonderful things coincide with challenge. The triumph that comes from perseverance, the reward of overcoming the challenge.
Discerning the difference between a good challenge and a bad one. Ask yourself:
Would completing this piece, or learning this skill, regardless of difficulty, push me to closer to or further from my goals?
Am I trying to grow in this area because I’m generally interested, or is this in service of my ego or how it would look to others?
Am I enjoying the process? Am I having fun? If not, what process does feel pleasurable? Follow that.
If you want to close the gap between where you are, and where you want to be, you have to finish the work. The gap will tell you, you aren’t good enough and you’ll never get better, and if you believe that it will become true. It’s when you complete the project that illuminated the gap that the gap starts to narrow. Keep going.
Honorable Mentions:
The Gap and The Gain goes hard on this principle. The author mentions the principle of the gap and the gain in this book, which is one of my most recommended book.
I’ve been wearing this dress nonstop, if you’re looking for an easy summer dress I can’t recommend this one enough.
One thing that is helping me keep my head on straight this summer is the Weekly Task Planner from Appointed. If it’s not in the planner, it’s not happening. Use ELLENMOTE at checkout for a discount.
This summer I’ve been working on a collection of floral work, paintings, cyanotypes, and collage. I’ll be dropping the collection on July 23, get on the waitlist here.
Thank you so much for reading Kunsthalle! It means the world.
You can see my available art, shop all my faves, book a call with me (resuming in August), and follow on instagram. If you want to talk about collaborating or otherwise, please reach out to info@ellenmote.com.
“Am I trying to grow in this area because I’m generally interested, or is this in service of my ego or how it would look to others?” Love this question and will be asking myself this when discerning new challenge to take on. Thank you Ellen!