Imperfect Wisdom: Why the Best Advice Usually Sounds Ridiculous

Ever had someone give you advice that sounded absolutely absurd—but then it turned out to be exactly what you needed? Some of the best wisdom out there is weird, counterintuitive, and perfectly imperfect.

Here’s a short collection of slightly off beat advice I've encountered that you can try out for yourself.

Ridiculous Advice #1: "If You’re Stuck, Do Less."

We’ve all heard, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again."  Sure… keep running on that treadmill going nowhere.. Sometimes trying harder is exactly the problem. 

Step away, breathe, stare into space, watch the leaves moving in the breeze. This doesn’t just recharge your brain—it lets your creative subconscious sneak in through the back door. It sounds like lazy advice but it's secretly brilliant.

(And yes, this trick absolutely works in songwriting—trust me, I teach this stuff.)

Ridiculous Advice #2: "Sing Loudly to Stop Caring."

If you are terrified of performing or public speaking. Here's a trick that sounds totally bizarre: sing your worries out—loudly while imagining you are someone else. In your car. In the shower. Anywhere. Be it Etta James or Madonna or Beyonce or Bob Dylan or Elvis Presley. It feels silly (it is silly), but it's also effective. Singing activates your nervous system differently and singing in a way you imagine someone else might sing (whether you actually sound like that person or not is irrelevant) releases the constriction of stress and anxiety and gives you more freedom to be expressive and relaxed when you are on stage. It’s so effective it almost seems unfair. 

(Side note: I use this trick in my voice coaching sessions all the time. Silly singing is the bomb.)

Ridiculous Advice #3: "Write Songs About Things You Hate."

 Most songwriters focus on inspiration from what they love. But try writing about things you dislike, things you avoid, things you’ve lost patience with.

Why? Because frustration, boredom, and even anger can be incredibly honest creative fuel. Imperfect? Definitely. Effective? Surprisingly,  yes.

(Psst: My songwriting classes embrace this kind of imperfect, honest creativity. Songs don’t need to be pretty to be true.)

The Wisdom of Imperfect Wisdom

The truth is, great creativity often hides behind silly advice and imperfect methods. Creativity isn't about perfect technique or flawless logic—it's messy, it’s playful, and sometimes just plain odd.

My approach to voice lessons, songwriting classes, and creative coaching embraces exactly that: real, human imperfection. It's in the weird, imperfect moments that your real voice emerges—authentic, clear, and undeniably yours.

So next time someone gives you ridiculous advice, pause before dismissing it. Maybe it's secretly brilliant.

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Ready to Embrace Your Imperfect Wisdom and Creativity?

Book in for a voice lesson, songwriting class, or coaching session today. https://lisarichardsmusic.com/singing-lessons-classes